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Creative Blends, a student-run business at Coal City High School, has introduced dirty sodas to its morning menu. The business is operated by the Transitions Class and has previously offered hot and cold coffees, teas, and hot cocoa.
A dirty soda consists of soda and ice with flavored syrups added and topped with cream. Instructor Sarah Bell explained the motivation for the new menu item: “We wanted to do something to upgrade Creative Blends beyond coffee.” She said students have developed their skills through running the business and it was time to expand the menu.
The idea of dirty sodas began in Utah around 2010, starting with a Diet Coke mixed with coconut syrup, lime juice, and cream. Since then, various flavors have become popular. Students and staff at Creative Blends tested different combinations before deciding on four options: Raspberry Cream, Orange Creamsicle, Peaches and Cream, and Coconut Dr. Pepper.
Bell described the process: “There were a lot of cups and a lot of drinks as we were trying to figure it all out.”
Students involved in Creative Blends each have their favorite flavor. Hannah prefers Raspberry Cream; Austin likes Orange Creamsicle; Lexi favors Coconut Dr. Pepper. Coal City English instructor Traci Fritz regularly orders Raspberry Cream on Mondays and Fridays but chooses raspberry hot cocoa during the rest of the week.
Deliveries are made directly to teachers’ classrooms by students who also manage tasks such as processing online orders, serving as baristas, handling deliveries, acting as accountants, budgeting, inventory management, shopping for supplies, and selecting menu items. Hannah shared that participating in Creative Blends is one of her favorite parts of the day.
Next month will see the introduction of a holiday line of dirty sodas inspired by seasonal themes such as the Grinch. Dirty sodas are priced at $3 per cup while coffee, tea, and cocoa remain at $1 each.
Faculty members say that while they appreciate the products served by Creative Blends, they value most the involvement of students in running the business. The skills gained through this project are expected to benefit students throughout their lives.
Coal City High School is part of Coal City Community Unit School District 1 (CCUSD 1), which serves Grundy and Will counties through several schools including Coal City Early Childhood Center, Coal City Elementary School, Coal City Intermediate School, Coal City Middle School, and Coal City High School (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). According to state data from 2020 reported by ISBE (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/), CCUSD 1 spent $21,619 per student for a total expenditure of $47 million that year.
The district employs 153 teachers earning an average salary of $69,297 before pension contributions; about 78 percent are women (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). No teacher had more than ten absences in a school year according to recent records.
Demographically CCUSD 1’s student population is nearly 87 percent White with smaller percentages identifying as Hispanic (9.6 percent), Black or Asian (each about 0.6 percent) (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).
The experience gained by students through initiatives like Creative Blends supports skill development relevant both within school settings and beyond graduation.
