DEARBORN HEIGHTS —The Crestwood School District began serving halal meat as an option on its lunch menu this week, after years of repeated concerns over accommodating the dietary needs of the growing Muslim student population in the district.  Arab Americans account for more than 62 percent of the entire district’s student body. 

Starting this school year, the district will be serving halal chicken patties, which are offered every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at all elementary schools and everyday at Riverside Middle School and Crestwood High School. 

The Council on American Islamic Relations of Michigan (CAIR-MI) Safe Spaces Coordinator Warda Kalim worked with the district, namely the district’s Food Service Director Lori Squire and also discussed a range of other issues facing minorities with Superintendent Dr. Laurine VanValkenburg. Kalim said the discussions were positive, and CAIR-MI looks forward to building a continuing relationship with the district, as it has with other schools. 

Kalim contacted the district after the Dearborn Heights Community Organization (DHCO) approached CAIR-MI with concerns about halal meat not being served in any of its five schools.  The DHCO has also worked with district administrators on the issue. 

Kalim compared the district’s menu with other schools in the greater Detroit area and says they offer a lot more options to accommodate the dietary needs of a diverse group of students and is pleased to see the district also expand its vegetarian options. 

“We welcome the implementation of halal meals at all Crestwood schools and also welcome the district expanding its vegetarian options to accommodate other minority and faith groups,” said Kalim.  “We hope that other school districts in Southeast Michigan provide similar accommodations to serve our area’s growing Muslim population.” 

Officials from the DOJ listening to complaints from concerned community members in June 2012 where the issue of halal meat being served was addressed. PHOTO: TAAN/Natasha Dado

Kalim said that CAIR-MI has recently worked with other institutions in varying areas of the State to provide halal meals. 

When the halal chicken patties are not being served on Tuesday and Thursday at the three elementary schools, students have the option of eating a bean and cheese burrito, which is offered those days, or a fish sandwich, that is served daily.  At Crestwood High School and Riverside Middle School, other daily options, outside of the chicken patties, include a salad bar, tuna sandwich on whole grain bread, fish sandwich and bean burrito. 

“This is long overdue. Having halal meat as an option on the menu should have happened way before Arab Americans comprised more than 60 percent of the student body,” said community activist Rashid Baydoun. 

Baydoun and Hamid Soueidan, a former member of the Crestwood School Board of Education and a Crestwood High School graduate, both say that in 2003 the district started serving halal meat, but then eventully stopped. 

Baydoun says it was because a few parents started complaining to the board of education about halal food being served and it was removed as a result.  He says it was unfortunate that the school board sided with the concerns of a few people, rather than acting in the best interest of the majority of the student body.  Soueidan says he was told halal meat was removed from the menu, because it became unpopular among students. 

He says the school board took a step in the right direction by adding a halal meat option to the menu, but it needs to move forward with expanding halal options, and that offering only halal chicken patties isn’t enough. 

The cost of halal meat has been an issue as well. A source says that the Arab American community has been working with the school board to find affordable halal meat options from vendors and that although one affordable vendor was found who made costs reasonable, he wasn’t used. 

Since 2012, members of the district’s board of education have faced increasing pressure from Arab Americans to offer halal food menu options.  

In 2012, Hiam Brinjikji, a counselor at Crestwood High School, filed complaints withseveral federal agencies. 

Recently, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission shared findings, through an investigation into the district, which showed Arab Americans were discriminated against in hiring and recruitment. 

Brinjikji’s complaints eventually prompted more Arab Americans to come forward to the board of education with concerns that they’ve had for years and felt were never addressed properly, such as bringing halal meat into the district.  

In June 2012, concerned parents and community members met with officials from the U.S. Department of Justice at the Caroline Kennedy Library in Dearborn Heights and raised concerns about halal meat not being offered, among other issues. 

The DHCO was formed after Brinjikji’s complaints were filed, and since then, its members have been vocal in getting the community’s concerns out, not only to the board of education, but also to elected officials in the City. 

“I’m very happy to see the district moving in the right direction. I’m even more moved by the students’ and parents’ excitement in regards to the halal option in the district.  There are still pending and pressing issues in the district that must be addressed, but this action by the school board shows that, with participation and representation of the community, things can get done.  I thank the Crestwood Board of Education and say to them that I am encouraged and motivated to work more closely with them, in continuing the chain reaction of change; change that will lead to a district that represents its students and their needs,”  said Zaineb Hussein, DHCO member and former board of education candidate. 

Since 2012, Arab Americans have made their presence felt at school board meetings and continue to engage in issues, concerning students, with board members.  

“We want to thank the board of education,” said Hassan Bazzi, President of the DHCO. He says the move made by the district  is long overdue, and that it’s important for parents and community members, who have concerns, to voice them to elected officials and the school board, in order to see the change they want implemented. 

“We welcome this great news and extend our appreciation to all those who made this possible,” Bazzi said. “This victory is only possible because of those who worked closely to build a coalition of understanding.”