Lunch lady who says free meal led to firing offered job back

However, the district said in a statement on Wednesday night that it doesn’t fire workers for single events and offered Ms Bowden her job back in the spirit of the holidays. The letter accused Bowden of stealing school property and inaccurately recording transactions. “If they would’ve just looked at her account, this whole thing could’ve been avoided”, the mother of the student said.

Bowden plans to challenge the district’s policy – and says she would break the school’s rules again, if necessary.

According to the Idaho State Journal, students “are allowed to charge up to $11 in the lunch room”, with parents being told when their child’s bill has reached the limit.

She was sacked despite offering to pay the district for the $1.70 lunch.

According to NBC News, the school district declined to address the specifics of Bowden’s case but did release a statement.

The petition had 77,000 signatures from around the globe as of Thursday morning.

“I don’t understand how they can look at a hungry child and tell them ‘You can’t eat today”.

It is not yet clear if she will return to the job.

Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad said he met with Howell to discuss the effect the termination has had on the city.

“He said I was on permanent leave until he called me – I should not call them, he will call me”, she said. Now after more than 77,000 people signed a petition, the school district has offered Dalene Bowden her job back. The story was also the No. 1 trending story on Facebook nationwide on Wednesday afternoon.

Pocatello/Chubbuck School District No. 25 did not immediately respond to ABC News’ requests for additional comment.

‘Our District focuses on the success of every student and recognizes nutrition is an important part of each student’s education and learning’.

“There really are a lot of really good people out there”, Bowden said. “We’re supposed to take the tray away and dump it, right there in front of them, and I couldn’t do that”. “Knowing that made me just so much more thankful for her”.

The firing sparked a national outrage.

The cafeteria worker, who had worked for the district for three years, said the letter was ‘breaking my heart, ‘ and added that the school didn’t even include her final check.