"You trust people's hearts are in the right place when it comes to kids and education," says Springport Superintendent Randall Cook.

But educators and students in Springport are now learning that might not always be the case.

The Jackson County Sheriff's Department says Shelly Raquel Aday, known to friends as "Shelby," embezzled somewhere between $5,000 and $10,000 from the school's lunch program while working as a substitute secretary for the schools.

"You never want to believe something like this can happen," Cook says.

Both Cook and school liasion Deputy Tony McNeil say this was a total misuse of trust.

"People liked her," NcNeil says. "It's quite a shock to the school district."

And in a district like Springport, where declining enrollment means declining funds, they watch every dollar. So when dollars started disappearing, they had to act quickly.

"They installed a closed-circuit hidden video camera, and finally on April 25th they caught the suspect taking the money on video," McNeil says.

"Every dollar is critical," explains Cook.

Authorities say the amount Aaday took from the school is more than they get per pupil in state funding. But Cook says tighter accounting and criminal background checks should help prevent future financial foibles.

"We want people to know we're careful with the funds we're entrusted with," he says.

Especially now, with money tight everywhere.