Sandra Lynn Pace, 51, of Jefferson was charged with theft by taking, Gainesville police Lt. Brian Kelly said Wednesday. The arrest happened at about 2:40 p.m. Tuesday outside Stork Gamco, an Airport Parkway manufacturer of poultry processing machinery.

A group of students from Hall County schools, Gainesville city schools, Lakeview Academy and Brenau Academy were visiting the plant as part of the Gainesville-Hall County Chamber of Commerce’s Youth Leadership program, said Hall County schools spokesman Gordon Higgins.

According to an arrest warrant, Pace admitted to stealing $145 out of the purse of the victim, identified as Dana Miller, while Miller was inside the plant with students and Pace waited on the bus.

No students reported missing any valuables, Higgins said.

Pace was booked into the Hall County jail and released Tuesday on $1,000 bond.

Hall County schools Transportation Director Jewel Armour said Pace has worked for the school system since 2000 with no previous history of misconduct and passed a criminal background check when she was hired.

She is suspended from her job without pay pending the results of an investigation and could be terminated depending on those results, Higgins said.