Brookfield/Elm Grove Monthly

By Lauren Anderson Freeman Staff BROOKFIELD — Elm- brook School District Food Service Director Cheryl Peil envisions someday offering stu- dents a burrito bar expe- rience in the lunch room that that they might find at a restau- rant like Qdoba Mexi- can Grill. But there is some- thing standing in her way. The idea wouldn't likely fit within the calorie restrictions of current national school lunch program guide- lines. It's one of several rea- sons district leaders are considering whether Brookfield East and Central high schools should opt out of the program. The move would allow the schools to serve what they want, but would mean forgo- ing federal aid. Peil said it's hard to argue with standards that promote healthy eating, but the current discussion comes down to a matter of choice. "These guidelines are not bad things, it's just that high school stu- dents want different choices," Peil said. "We think we could expand the program a bit if we don't have as strict of requirements." The Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 established new stan- dards related to what is served in school, partic- ularly regarding calorie restrictions and portion size limitations. This year, the Elmbrook School District phased in the last of the requirements, which have limited the schools' a la carte options. District leaders say the new standards have contributed to a decline in overall student meal participation, with the average daily meal par- ticipation down by 2 percent this year. And the Elmbrook district isn't the only one having such a decline, Peil noted. "Participation has been declining across the U.S." she said. Currently, students can choose from three of five components — including a grain, meat or meat alternative, fruit, vegetables and a half pint of milk — for it to count as a meal, but a fruit or vegetable is required. For high schoolers, meals must be between 750 and 850 calories. Regulations also apply to food sold at in-school fundraisers and in vend- ing machines, Peil said. Peil noted that stu- dents' lunches these days do not look all that different from those five years ago. Chicken nuggets, pizza and fries remain staples, but they have taken a healthier form. Chicken nuggets are a little less salty than they once were and pizza now features whole grain crusts and low-fat cheese. The differences are slight, but students have taken note. "Students are aware of flavor," Peil said. "It's not a horrible fla- vor, but it's a differ- ence." Schools would contin- ue to serve healthy options if they left the program, Peil said, but having an additional 50 to 100 calories of wiggle room per meal would allow the food service to expand its entree offer- ings. The district would lose federal reimburse- ment for its meals, putting the responsibili- ty on the district to cover free and reduced- price lunches. Current- ly about 10 percent of district students qualify for federally-subsidized lunches. "We would be opting out of federal money that we get from the USDA program," Peil said. "So it will be a very cautious move if we do it. We are looking at a lot of preliminary numbers and looking at options." The district's elemen- tary and middle schools would remain in the program, Peil said. "Our elementary stu- dents do well with it," she said. "And our mid- dle schools have had good practices that they gained from elementary school." The School Board will have to make a decision by May for the change to take effect next year. On the whole, Peil said, the district has not received many com- plaints from parents or students regarding the current program, say- ing they have been "pretty happy about having good and healthy meals." "We're just looking at options to give students their best choices," Peil said. "It's all about the students. That why we have these programs — for the students." Email: landerson@conleynet.com Freeman Brookfield & Elm Grove • 3A MARCH 2015 241530003 2 4 0 9 5 5 0 0 1 • Awarded the U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon School Award 2013 • LCMS Exemplary School 2010-2011 • Fully Accredited through National Lutheran School Accreditation • A Center of Influence for the U.S. Naval Academy • Ranked 20th Best Middle School in America by thebestschools.org Call for your personal tour anytime! 10025 W. North Avenue • Wauwatosa, WI 53226 414.258.4558 • www.orlctosa.org Every day is OPEN HOUSE at ORLS! Strong Academics • Quality Classroom Environment • Special Learning Programs • Early Childhood Programming Outstanding Curriculum • Teachers Committed to Instructional Excellence • Managed Class Sizes • Full-Time Spanish Teacher • Advanced Technology • P.E. Specialist Family Environment • High Level of Parental Involvement • Safe & Secure Campus • On-Site Child Care Activities for Every Interest • Band & Choir • Team Sports • Student Council • Art • Science • Reading Clubs • After School Programs Available Now Enrolling for 2015-16 School Year Elmbrook schools might drop federal lunch program Freeman file photo Servings of vegetables fill a tray at Brookfield Central High School. By Katherine Michalets Special to The Freeman TOWN OF BROOKFIELD — The excitement was evident in Town Administrator Rick Czopp's voice last month as contracts were being finalized for The Corners, the long- awaited and delayed upscale retail and residential development planned for 19 acres near the inter- section near Bluemound and Bark- er roads. After the Town Board held a closed session during its meeting, the supervisors approved a develop- er's agreement with The Marcus Corporation. Also, Marcus Corpo- ration said it had entered a joint venture agreement with IM Proper- ties and Bradford Real Estate to lead the project valued at close to $200 million. IM Properties and Bradford will serve as the manag- ing member in the joint venture and The Marcus Corporation will remain as a partner in the joint venture, according to an announce- ment. It was also revealed that demoli- tion of the vacant Menards build- ing on The Corners site would begin soon and a formal ground- breaking is planned for the spring. The target completion date for the 750,000-square-foot upscale retail center is fall 2016. Also included in the project is a Von Maur depart- ment store, luxury apartments and restaurants. "As we have previously disclosed, it was always our intent to bring in a majority equity partner for this project. We knew that transitioning The Corners to an experienced equity partner and a Midwest real estate developer with deep retail expertise would speed the project timeline and ensure the best possi- ble finished product," said Gregory S. Marcus, president and chief executive officer of The Marcus Corporation, in a statement. "We are extremely proud of the efforts of our team and the invest- ments we have made to make our vision for The Corners a reality. I'm confident that The Corners is on track to becoming a true desti- nation in southeastern Wisconsin that will spark new economic devel- opment opportunities in Brookfield and the surrounding areas. We are pleased to remain an investor in the joint venture." Czopp said the approval of the developer's agreement is good news not only for the Town of Brookfield, but for the region. In December, the Town Board approved tax incremental financing for The Corners project in the amount of almost $38 million. Mar- cus Corporation has projected that a total of $186 million in new tax- able value will be created within the TIF district, according to a 2014 memo, as a result of The Corners. The remainder of financing for the project will come from a mix of balance sheet equity from IM Prop- erties, land from The Marcus Cor- poration and future construction loan commitments that are being negotiated, according to the announcement. Design architect DDG is finaliz- ing the plans for The Corners, with a general contractor expected to be named later this spring. Newly- merged CBRE/UCR has been retained to manage retail leasing for the upscale development. "We are excited to be opening our first Wisconsin store at such a top- tier, upscale location like The Cor- ners," said Jim von Maur, president of Von Maur Department Stores, whose 140,000-square-foot store will anchor the development. The Corners is expected to create more than 1,100 permanent new retail jobs and more than 325 tem- porary construction jobs. Accord- ing to the announcement, the Town of Brookfield conducted an inde- pendent assessment and estimates the development will generate annual sales tax revenue of more than $8 million based on $157 mil- lion in total annual retail and restaurant sales. "The investment by local, region- al and international players in The Corners project really speaks to the attractive location, growth opportu- nities and strong pace of economic development in the Town of Brook- field. We are very pleased to have reached an agreement to move this project forward and to work with this team to develop a showcase property that will be known statewide," said Keith Henderson, chairman of the Town of Brook- field, in a statement. Stay updated on progress at The Corners by visiting the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Corners- Brookfield. Freeman file photo Students fill the lunch line at Brookfield Central High School. With groundbreaking for The Corners this spring, fall 2016 opening targeted 242243007

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