The topic of school lunch is often a tense one. Some parents take issue with teachers that “shame” their kids for the foods they choose to eat or even what the parents themselves send in lunchboxes. But an even bigger issue seems to be the ability to afford to buy lunch at school. While some families are financially secure enough to buy their kids lunch, many others aren’t. So much so that there’s been a significant push for universal free lunch in some states.
There are ways to pay less, but some families still struggle to pay for their kids’ school lunches, and not all are eligible for free lunch. Now, an Alabama cafeteria worker has lost her job because she worked to keep kids from going hungry.
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Avette Dunn had worked at Shelby Elementary School in Shelby County, Alabama, for eight years, according to AL.com. On February 24, 2025, the Shelby County School Board voted to fire Dunn from her job. It claims she lied about donations to the school lunch fund.
Stacy Aderholt, principal of the school, agreed with the decision. “It’s imperative you can be trusted,” she claimed, according to ABC 33/40. The decision was made because Dunn allegedly lied about where the funds came from. Administrators also claimed it was out of her job description to accept or solicit donations.
According to a statement from the Alabama Education Association that AL.com published, Dunn accepted donations for the school lunch fund. She put the money into the fund, and didn’t misuse it.
But, the superintendent alleged that Dunn went against protocol. She didn’t tell Aderholt about the donations “during an impromptu questioning in a crowded lunchroom.” Dunn claims that she was honoring the request of the donor to remain nameless.
“I made a mistake and I think I should be able to go back to my job,” Dunn said during the school board meeting. “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.”
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“Every dollar was accounted for and used solely to ensure no child at her school went hungry,” the AEA statement read. “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.”
However, the Shelby County School Board claims there was no need for Dunn to solicit donations in the first place. It alleges that students have never been denied school lunch if they couldn’t pay.
Dunn’s lawyers said that there is no rule prohibiting the solicitation of donations. They pointed out that teachers often create wish lists on Amazon or other places.
