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POCATELLO, Idaho (AP) — A former lunch worker in southern Idaho says she was fired for giving a middle school student a free meal.
KPVI-TV reports that Dalene Bowden received a termination letter from the Pocatello School District after she gave a tray of food to a 12-year-old student who said she didn't have money for a $1.70 hot lunch.
The letter cited theft as the reason for her termination.
According to Bowden, a supervisor placed her on leave after witnessing what she had done.
School board chairwoman Janie Gebhardt says she can't comment on Bowden's termination because it's a personnel matter. However, she says they have school policies in place to never let a student go hungry even if the student has no money for food.
Students are given an $11 overdraft balance. Once exceeded, the school alerts the parents to pay their bill.
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