That was the message Tuesday from the Board of Education, which rejected a school's request to apply for two grants from Wal-Mart because of objections to the company's business practices. The $2,000 in funding would have been spent on new equipment for Wilby High School's physical education program.
"Do we need to sell our souls to get these grants? No," said board member John Theriault, one of four to vote against the request. Three commissioners voted in favor.
"If Wal-Mart wants to improve its relationship with the community, it has ample opportunity to do so by complying with Connecticut law," added board member Ann Marie Sweeney. "You don't compromise your values because somebody waves the almighty buck."
Sweeney was referring to environmental and child labor violations at Connecticut Wal-Mart stores. The state fined three Wal-Mart stores in June for a series of child labor violations, including instructing minors to operate hazardous equipment and work past 10 p.m. In August, the company reached a $1.15 million settlement with state officials to resolve water management complaints at 22 stores.
The company is also a regular target of critics nationwide who say it offers insufficient wages and benefits.
Two other board members not present Tuesday have also spoken out against accepting money from the company.
Wal-Mart, the nation's largest retailer, operates stores in Waterbury, Naugatuck, Torrington and more than two dozen other locations in Connecticut. \The company and its related foundations donated more than $170 million in 2004 to schools and other non-profit groups nationwide, according to the company's Web site. Wilby would have used the money to buy equipment such as heart-rate monitors, medicine balls and lacrosse equipment.
Board members supporting the applications said school officials should be allowed to pursue funding they feel they need.
"You can't believe everything you read, you can't believe everything you hear," Commissioner Joyce Petteway said at a board workshop last week.
"We're looking for grants to help our children."
Board member Karen Harvey, another supporter, said she was somewhat disappointed with Tuesday's decision.
"I was looking more at the side of the students," she said. "I was wondering what they're going to do now."
