Glenbard News Spotlight: Glenbard expands halal meal options to all four high schools

Glenbard Township High School District 87 is proud to announce the expansion of halal meal options to all four Glenbard high schools beginning Tuesday, January 20. This milestone reflects the district’s ongoing commitment to fostering an inclusive, welcoming environment where all students feel seen, supported, and valued.

Glenbard West first introduced halal food choices in October, serving as a pilot location for the initiative. Following strong student interest and positive feedback, the district worked with its food service provider, OrganicLife, to bring halal options districtwide.

OrganicLife will offer a weekly rotation of halal-certified menu items, including chicken tenders, beef hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, hamburgers, and cheeseburgers, ensuring students have consistent access to meals that meet their dietary needs.

Students played a critical role in shaping the program. Through focus groups and direct feedback, they helped guide menu selection and implementation to ensure the offerings would be meaningful and practical for those who rely on halal meals.

“This is about making sure every student feels included and respected,” said Glenbard West students Asiyah Hussain and Hakeem Hussain, who participated in the district’s focus groups. “We believe it is essential for the district to provide a variety of food options that accommodate the diverse needs of all students. Prior to the introduction of halal options, many students had very limited lunch choices, often restricted to items such as pizza or breadsticks. The addition of halal options has allowed these students to enjoy nutritious meals alongside their peers.”

The brother and sister duo added that students remain committed to working with district leaders to continue improving access. “We are committed to continue working closely with District 87 leadership, to ensure inclusivity in school cafeterias remains a priority and is embraced by the entire student body.”

Since halal meals became available at Glenbard West, student response has been overwhelmingly positive.

“The response has been incredibly positive, and we are gratified to say that many students are benefiting from the new initiative,” Hakeem said. “Since halal became an option, the amount of students who benefit from school lunch has greatly increased, and the halal food line goes out the door, demonstrating both demand and appreciation. We are very thankful to the cafeteria staff who have been doing an excellent job ensuring that students receive a variety of halal meal options. We have gotten feedback from many students, and on their behalf can proudly say that the halal food is both delicious and meaningful to them.”

For the Hussain family, the initiative also represents the culmination of years of student advocacy.

“On a personal level, it is incredibly meaningful to see our school and district take concrete steps toward greater inclusivity,” Asiyah said. “This initiative began in 2022, when our older brother, Yusuf Hussain, first proposed the idea of halal meal options to the Principal’s Advisory Board under Dr. Monaghan. He continued to develop and present this proposal to the district throughout his junior and senior years.”

After Yusuf graduated, Asiyah continued the work alongside Hakeem, bringing the issue forward through the Principal’s Advisory Board and later to district leadership.

“By the end of last school year, we discussed the urgency of this issue with Mr. Peterselli, who connected us to district leadership,” she said. “Since then, we have been able to revive the work through a district-wide focus group that met over the summer and into the current school year. Throughout this collaborative effort, we have gathered perspectives from all schools in the district and remain committed to expanding and strengthening this initiative moving forward.”

The introduction of halal meals aligns directly with Glenbard’s Profile of a Graduate, which emphasizes embracing diversity as a core competency. District 87 believes that honoring students’ cultural and backgrounds helps strengthen community connections and supports student well-being.

Glenbard is excited to continue building on this progress and thanks its students, staff, and partners for helping make this important step toward inclusivity possible.