The question of whether or not Avette Dunn, a Shelby County Schools cafeteria worker, will get to keep her job is still undecided after she violated school protocol by not informing a principal about donations she collected to pay for students’ lunches. Shelby County’s superintendent, Dr. Lewis Brooks, has recommended Dunn for termination.
Dunn has been accused of violating school protocol by not informing the principal about donations she collected to pay for students’ lunches.
According to Attorney Candis McGowan, this is not the case.
“This is a clear case of a dedicated employee being penalized for acting in the best interest of students,” said McGowan. “Ms. Dunn’s only priority was to ensure that no child went hungry and that every student had the nutrition they needed to succeed in the classroom.”
The teachers’ union disagrees with the move to fire Dunn.
“We stand by our feeling that she should not be terminated,” Tracy Lesieur with the Alabama Education Association stated.
A group of concerned citizens also support Dunn’s actions. A petition on Change.org has been started to save Dunn’s job. The petition states, “Avette Dunn has been recommended for termination by the Shelby County Schools Superintendent, who accuses her of violating school protocol by not informing the principal about donations she collected for students’ lunches. The Alabama Education Association (AEA) argues that Dunn’s actions were justified and that all funds were used appropriately. She collected donations to help feed children. This is unjust. Please sign this petition to help save her job.”
At press time, 410 signatures had been collected.
A termination hearing was scheduled for earlier this week, but the Board decided to reschedule it to ensure that all procedures were followed correctly.
ABC 33/40 reported that the Shelby County Board of Education chose not to comment at this time because the issue was a personnel matter.
Sherri Blevins is a writer for Mountain Valley News and a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may email her at [email protected].
