Greendale Finds Success With Healthy Initiatives

The Greendale School District's health and wellness programs continue to receive national recognition and have served as a model for other school districts in the area.

The health of students and staff "underlies everything we do," said Business Services Director Erin Green, who has been the driving force behind the healthy initiatives for the last 10 years.

But school officials say the work isn't over. About 40 percent of students fall outside of the "healthy range" as determined by the district's Fitness Grams, which use various measures to come up with a composite score.

"That means we still have work to do," Green said.

Greendale has made student health a big focus this year, she said. One of the changes most noticeable to parents has been the district's insistence on bringing in healthy snacks for celebrations and holidays, instead of sugary treats.

It's prompted some grumbling, but other school districts are adopting similar policies and the health issues from sugars and corn syrups are growing, Green said.

Some of those healthy alternatives will be spotlighted at the third annual Nourish Expo, set for May 11. The event also includes a 5k run/walk, lunches served by Greendale High School culinary students and a keynote address.

The district is also expanding its high school garden and recently was certified for complying with the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act. The certification allows Greendale to get additional money from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The healthy focus also applies to staff members. Greendale has kept health care costs flat over the last four years and has the lowest health care costs per pupil out of any Milwaukee County school district, according to Green.

"That shows what we're doing works," Green said.

Green has spoken to many groups and other school districts about the district's health and wellness programs, and she drew praise from School Board members in their meeting Monday.

"We've kept that front and center ... because it does impact our entire community," School Board member Victoria McCormick said.