An Alabama school board dismissed a cafeteria employee for taking donations to assist pupils in paying for lunch.

The Shelby County School Board fired Avette Dunn, a veteran cafeteria staff member at Shelby Elementary, on Monday, Feb. 24, after a hearing, according to AL.com, ABC station WBMA, NBC affiliate WVTM, and the Shelby County Reporter.

Shelby County authorities stated the requests for Dunn’s removal were based on her alleged dishonesty about the donations when questioned, as well as soliciting or collecting gifts that were not part of her job duties, according to WBMA.

Shelby County Schools Superintendent Dr. Lewis Brooks recommended Dunn’s dismissal following an inquiry into allegations that she solicited funds for the school’s Parent Teacher Organization lunch account, according to the Shelby County Reporter. He also accused Dunn of insubordination in a letter.

According to Al.com, Dunn stated during Monday’s hearing that she wanted to return to work after having been on “detached duty” since October.

“I made a mistake and believe I should be able to return to my employment. In my perspective, I should’ve been punished for two weeks, but I’ve been off since October, and I don’t think I should be fired just for not disclosing,” Dunn told WVTM.

Dunn allegedly stated that she did not publicize the gifts because the donor intended to remain anonymous, according to WBMA, and that she wanted to ensure that students would not go hungry in the school cafeteria.

She also stated that she was unaware of any written policies governing the acceptance of gifts on behalf of the student dining account, according to AL.com.

The Alabama Education Association stated its support for Dunn in a Feb. 21 media alert released three days before the hearing and shared with PEOPLE, calling her eight years of service “exemplary.”

“These donations were properly placed into the student account designated for this purpose,” a statement from the organization said. “At no time did Ms. Dunn or her coworkers abuse this money. She calculated every dollar and used it solely to ensure that no child at her school went hungry.

During the hearing, school board member Peg Hill acknowledged to Dunn that deciding someone’s employment is difficult but added, according to the 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.”

In a statement to PEOPLE on Friday, Feb. 28, Brooks stated that the issue is unrelated to student eating. Every child in every school has the right to a nutritious breakfast and lunch during the school day. This isn’t about punishing someone for attempting to feed hungry children. The issue pertains to an employee who unnecessarily requested money, even though the fund remained intact. She was dishonest when questioned by her supervisor and a district supervisor.”

He further explained, “Every employee that works in a school has to be a person of trust because we are responsible for the communities’ and parents’ most precious commodity—their children—and the resources to support them.”

PEOPLE called Avette Dunn and the Shelby County School Board for comment on February 28, but they did not answer right away.