BY BENJAMIN WOOD<\/span>
\n THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE<\/span>
\n PUBLISHED: SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 05:18PM<\/span>
\n UPDATED: SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 09:31AM<\/span><\/p>\n

A school nutrition manager said she was upset and angry after reading a report blaming her for the fallout when 17 students\u2019 school lunches were thrown away at Uintah Elementary School in January.<\/p>\n

\u201cI read the report,\u201d Shirley Canham told The Salt Lake Tribune on Wednesday. \u201cI was not happy with it, obviously.\u201d<\/p>\n

Salt Lake City School District released the report, conducted by outside investigators, two weeks ago after the school lunch incident gained national attention and prompted changes to school lunch policies around the state.<\/p>\n

Investigators laid most of the blame for the incident on Canham, saying she failed to properly notify parents of low account balances and lied to her supervisor about the school\u2019s normal procedures for serving students with accounts in arrears.<\/p>\n

But Canham said the report is misleading in what details it does and does not include and largely excuses the district for allowing an antiquated and ill-conceived policy to remain in practice.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey knew what they were doing and they knew their policy wasn\u2019t right,\u201d she said. \u201cIt was easy to take it out on a 62-year-old lunch lady.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Salt Lake Tribune had not named Canham previously after she reported receiving death threats in the wake of the controversy.<\/p>\n

Canham said she typically didn\u2019t follow the district\u2019s policy of trashing lunches because it made her uncomfortable and she knew the school\u2019s parents well enough to let children to eat and bring a check to school the next day.<\/p>\n

When a district supervisor visited the school in January, Canham said she was scared to violate the district\u2019s policy. When asked about procedures, Canham told the supervisor that students with empty accounts regularly had their lunches taken away in exchange for a piece of fruit and a milk.<\/p>\n

That day, as students came through the line with empty accounts, Canham said she was told by her supervisor to follow policy by throwing away the lunches.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe said, \u2018No. You have to do this,\u2019\u201d Canham said. \u201cIt was horrible. It was a horrible day.\u201d<\/p>\n

But Canham also defended her supervisor, Peggy Bjornn, who was new to the district and similarly following instructions.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think she did what she thought she had to do,\u201d Canham said. \u201cShe was trying to please her boss and she didn\u2019t know any different.\u201d<\/p>\n

District spokesman Jason Olsen could not be reached for comment on Wednesday, but External Relations Director Michael Williams said the district typically does not comment on personnel decisions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe report speaks for itself,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Outrage over the trashed lunches led to a change in the district\u2019s policy, which now guarantees a lunch for all students, regardless of the balance in their accounts.<\/p>\n

Canham and Bjornn were placed on administrative leave following the incident. According to Canham, Bjornn\u2019s contract with the district was not renewed for the 2014-2015 school year and Canham declined an offer to return to Uintah Elementary School.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was a personal decision,\u201d she said. \u201cIt was prayerful decision on my part.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erica Lukes, a Uintah Elementary School parent, said the report is indicative of the district\u2019s efforts to pin its troubles on Canham and move on.<\/p>\n

She said its been saddening to watch Canham be defamed while school officials continue to shirk responsibility.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know Shirley,\u201d Lukes said. \u201cWe all love her and we know how good she is with our kids.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lukes said she would like to see disciplinary action taken against the district\u2019s head of nutritional services and Uintah Elementary School Principal Chelsea Malouf. She said the policy of taking lunches from students was not limited to Uintah Elementary School and it is wrong for the district to imply that what happened in January was an isolated incident.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would, at the very least, like to see a public apology to Shirley for defaming her character,\u201d Lukes said. \u201cShe was nothing but a loving person to our children. She took care of them and they miss her dearly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Canham said that she loved her job but likely would not return if the district offered an apology. She said she is considering further legal action against the district.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am speaking to attorneys,\u201d Canham said. \u201cI don\u2019t feel I\u2019m at liberty to give too much about that at this point.\u201d<\/p>\n

bwood@sltrib.com<\/p>\n