ICYMI: Alabama School Cafeteria Worker FIRED—After Accepting Donation to Save Lunch!
An Alabama school board axed a 10-year cafeteria veteran, after she accepted a donation to save dwindling lunch funds. 🌐 #News #ShelbyAL #Albama #Education
SHELBY, AL — An Alabama elementary school cafeteria worker, Avette Dunn, lost her job after a controversy involving donations to the school’s lunch program. Dunn, who had served at Shelby Elementary School for nearly a decade, was terminated following a six-hour school board hearing on a Monday night. The incident, which took place in October, led to her suspension before the final decision was made.
Shelby Elementary School, located 39 miles south of Birmingham, employed Dunn in a role where she ensured students’ lunch accounts were funded. Despite her good employment record, the school board voted to fire her after she accepted a donation to the parent-teacher organization fund for school lunches and later misled the principal about it.
Donation Sparks Conflict
The trouble began when a donor approached Dunn with an offer to contribute to the lunch program. Dunn accepted the money, aware that cafeteria funds were running low. She noted that if the balance dropped below $200, it could no longer cover student meals. The school, however, argued that handling such transactions fell outside her job duties, as she lacked training for it.
When Principal Stacy Aderholt questioned Dunn about the donation in the busy cafeteria, surrounded by other staff, Dunn concealed the truth to shield the donor’s identity. She later admitted to feeling afraid of confessing her actions. The school emphasized that her dishonesty, not the donation itself, prompted the termination. Aderholt stressed the importance of trust in her position, a point the district echoed by noting that lying about money could not be ignored.
Dunn’s legal team countered that her job description did not explicitly forbid accepting donations. They also confirmed that none of the funds were misused, as the money was properly deposited into the lunch fund.
Plea for Leniency Falls Short
At the hearing, Dunn fought to keep her job, arguing that the punishment was excessive. She acknowledged her mistake but suggested a two-week suspension would have been fair, rather than losing her position entirely. Dunn, whose children attend Shelby Elementary, expressed disbelief at being fired solely for withholding the truth initially.
Despite her plea and a solid work history, the school board upheld the decision, focusing on the breach of trust. The case has drawn attention to the strict oversight of cafeteria funds, which are tracked by multiple employees to ensure accountability.
Dunn’s termination marks the end of her nearly 10-year tenure with the district, leaving her to reflect on a single misstep that cost her a job she valued.
A Moment for Reflection
Avette Dunn, a dedicated cafeteria worker and mother whose children attend Shelby Elementary, deserves recognition for her nearly decade-long commitment to the school, alongside those impacted by her abrupt firing. The tight-knit community 39 miles south of Birmingham now grapples with the fallout of this decision, balancing trust in its institutions with the loss of a familiar face. For readers, this story offers a chance to believe in second chances, as Dunn’s plea for fairness resonates beyond the hearing room, inspiring hope for redemption and understanding. — Jack and Kitty Norton, Founders and Editors
RELATED TOPICS: Alabama | Kids and Family
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