An Alabama school board fired a school cafeteria worker for accepting donations to help students pay for their lunch.
The Shelby County School Board terminated the employment of Avette Dunn, a longtime cafeteria employee at Shelby Elementary, on Monday, Feb. 24, following a hearing, per Al.com, ABC affiliate WBMA, NBC affiliate WVTM and the Shelby County Reporter.
Shelby County officials said that the calls for Dunn’s firing were based on her alleged dishonesty about the donations when she was questioned about them, and for soliciting or accepting donations that was not part of her job duties, WBMA reported.
Shelby County Schools Superintendent Lewis Brooks recommended Dunn’s termination following an investigation that alleged she had solicited money for the school’s Parent Teacher Organization lunch account, the Shelby County Reporter wrote. He also accused Dunn of being insubordinate, according to a letter he wrote.
At Monday’s hearing, Dunn said she wanted to get her job back, as she had been on “detached duty” since October, according to Al.com, which cited news reports.
“I made a mistakem and I think I should be able to go back to my job. In my opinion, I think I should’ve been suspended for two weeks, but I’ve been off since October, but I don’t think I should get terminated just for not telling,” Dunn said, per WVTM.
Dunn reportedly said that she did not reveal the donations because the donor preferred to stay anonymous, according to WBMA, adding that she wanted to make sure children didn’t go hungry in the school’s cafeteria.
She also said she did not know of any written rules about accepting donations on behalf of the student meal account, Al.com reported.
“Every dollar was accounted for and used solely to ensure no child at her school went hungry,” according to a statement from the Alabama Education Association, as shared by Al.com. “Ms. Dunn’s actions reflect her compassion and dedication to the well-being of the students she serves, and her termination would set a troubling precedent.”
But Shelby County officials said that no child at Shelby Elementary has ever been turned down for lunch or would be denied, thus making the need to ask for donations unnecessary, WBMA reported.
During the hearing, school board member Peg Hill acknowledged to Dunn that making a decision regarding someone’s employment is not easy but added, per Shelby County Reporter: “Yes, you admitted a mistake, but I don’t see the collecting of money nearly as serious as the fact that you couldn’t be honest with your principal.”
PEOPLE contacted Avette Dunn, Shelby County Schools, the Shelby County School Board and the Alabama Education Association for comment on Friday, Feb. 18, but they did not immediately respond.
