Students get hungry during the school day. With vending machines not always being open and available, they can typically count on the Flock shop during WIN time to get a snack and drink before lunch. Prices are less than the vending machines, and there are different options for food and drinks.
Former principal Clark Mershon had an idea 15 years ago of a school store students could go to during certain school hours. He brought the idea to marketing teacher Kelly Rule. She said she jumped right into it and had full control of everything.
“As a marketing teacher, I’m a very big believer in real world, hands-on things,” Rule said. “This shop was the right thing to do.”
Rule took the shop into her hands and began the project. Rule’s marketing class, the class that runs the Flock Shop, chose the “Flock Shop” name. The students in Rule’s class do the work of checking out people and making sure the shop is stocked and ready for students. Rule is there to help.
“The Flock Shop always gives my students the mind to explore and get a little insight of what I teach, putting their minds to work on real-world things,” Rule said.
A problem that first came to mind was avoiding competition with the school cafeteria but also staying competitive with the vending machines around the school. The Flock Shop is open during WIN time Tuesday-Thursday, and they keep their prices lower than the vending machines while offering different options than the vending machines.
“I think the Flock shop competing with the vending machines is a good idea, and I believe they are doing a good job and would be able to take over the need for vending machines,” freshman Reagan Atkins said.
Rule takes students’ advice on what to sell at the Flock Shop. Then, she negotiates the prices based on what the students can afford and what the products are worth. The group received starter money at the beginning of the shop, and the profits went back into running the Flock Shop.
“I had seed money they gave me to start up, then all the profits go back into the Flock Shop to keep it running,” Rule said. “I go through students to see what I should and should not buy for the shop.”
Rule said one problem is that students often come without a pass. They need to have an online pass to enter the shop.
“I always have a hard time getting a pass to the Flock shop; hall traffic is crazy busy when the Flock Shop is open, and I wish there was a way to help that,”Freshman Kierstin Wilson said.
With the Flock Shop not being open every day of the week, students go without Flock Shop snacks on Monday and Friday. There is no travel during WIN Time on those days, so the Flock Shop stays closed.
“If the Flock Shop was open all week, they could gain more days of profit and expand what they provide in the Flock Shop,” sophomore Michael Wilson said.
Students enjoy shopping at the Flock shop, and some want to work there in their near future.
“I have had good experiences with the Flock Shop in my one year being at Staley. Students who run the flock when it’s open seem to enjoy it and are learning. I hope to be able to participate in that in the future,” freshman Tatum Laughlin said.
