Sensitive employee information 'inadvertently' released by Hall school system

GAINESVILLE - The names and Social Security numbers of 36 substitute school lunchroom workers in Hall County were recently mailed to five people on a list of workers owed pay by the county school system.

System spokesman Gordon Higgins says it was an inadvertent mailing of an internal document. He commented after an internal investigation generated after a copy of the list and the letter that went out with it were obtained by WDUN NEWS TALK 550/AccessNorthGa.com.

"Our school nutrition department had sent out some letters to some substitute nutrition workers working in school cafeterias regarding pay these employees had not received," Higgins said. "(It was) kind of an oversight. It is not common practice or protocal in our office to send this internal document out, but it happened."

The letters dated Oct. 6 requested that the workers come by the central office Oct. 11 and to bring two copies of their driver's license and Social Security card. It went on to say that it was "very important" that "you attend this meeting since you will not get a check until you have come to one of these meetings." The list that accompanied the letter to five of the 36 workers on it contained their names, Social Security numbers and other data, including the amount they are owed. The amounts range from $19.25 to $588. The total is $4,884.25.

Higgins said the employee responsible for the mailing will be counseled about what happened but will not be disciplined. He said that while the worker is a new employee, that is no excuse for what happened.

Higgins said all departments will be cautioned against disseminating such information.

"We will send out communication...to make sure that once (they) get these lists, these are for (internal) information and are not to be shared with the public in any way."