Popular District 211 cafeteria item makes a comeback at end of school year

They're back! For nearly a decade, the top selling item in all Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 schools was the popper bowl, a mix of popcorn chicken with mashed potatoes, corn and cheese.

When the district moved to packageable lunches during the pandemic, the item was removed.

The bowls made a triumphant return in the last weeks of school, to the enjoyment of students and staff alike.

At William Fremd High School, monitors throughout the halls were announcing the popper bowls comeback, while at Schaumburg High School student media teams documented student reactions.

"I'm so happy to be able to come to school knowing that I can get these again," Conant High School senior Casper Kielian said,

Conant junior Sabrina Hobart shared Kielian's thrill.

"We weren't sure we were getting them back," she said. "We stood in line and were really excited. We are happy they are back. We hope they continue to serve them."

While overall sentiment was positive, some Schaumburg students wrinkled their noses at the dish, which also comes as a falafel option and meets required federal nutrition guidelines.

The bowl is the brainchild of a former director of food services, who was brainstorming new ways to serve up healthy and tasty food that students would like and look forward to on school menus.

It was a hit.

At Conant High School, the lunchtime item was the first idea shouted out at a spring improv show when asked for something you might spot in a high school. The Conant Class of 2022 also requested the bowls be served at their final lunch as high school students.

• Schaumburg High School students John Beck, Nicholas Sladowski and Brandon Saam contributed to this report.