The Knucklehead of the Day award (Wizbang)

Today's winner is the Dallas Independent School District. They get the award for the following-

Years after being advised by a state agency to stop, the Dallas Independent School District continued to provide foreign citizens with fake Social Security numbers to get them on the payroll quickly.
Some of the numbers were real Social Security numbers already assigned to people elsewhere. And in some cases, the state's educator certification office unknowingly used the bogus numbers to run criminal background checks on the new hires, most of whom were brought in to teach bilingual classes.

The practice was described in an internal report issued in September by the district's investigative office, which looked into the matter after receiving a tip. The report said the Texas Education Agency learned of the fake numbers in 2004 and told DISD then that the practice "was illegal."

It's unclear how long DISD had been issuing the phony numbers, and district officials didn't know Thursday how many had been given out. But the investigative report and interviews with DISD employees indicate the practice went on for several years before it was discontinued this past summer.

DISD human resources chief Kim Olson, who came to the district in 2007, said that she learned about the false numbers this past summer around the time the district's investigative unit was looking into them and that she put a stop to the practice.

"There's no way we should be doing that kind of stuff," Ms. Olson said. "Even if your intention is good to help employees get paid, you can't use inappropriate procedures to do that."

Besides the plain ilegality of what was done, how would the people who approved this like their social security numbers used by other people. I bet not too much, it can play havoc with people's lifes from taxes, to credit reports, to even being falsely accused of being a criminal. The school district could be sued by the legitimate holders of those Social security numbers.

Everyone who was behind this should be fired. In the meantime I name the Dallas Independent School District today's Knucklehead of the Day. I truly suggest readers go and read The Dallas Morning News article in its entirety.

Hat tip- Michelle Malkin

Comments (4)

Fired? They should be pros... (Below threshold)

1. Posted by Oldflyer | November 15, 2008 9:31 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

Oldflyer:

Fired? They should be prosecuted and jailed.

How did we get to this point? Well, I know the answer; step by ignored step.

Posted on November 15, 2008 09:31

Bill,Cut 'em some sl... (Below threshold)

2. Posted by Codekeyguy | November 15, 2008 11:08 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

Codekeyguy

Bill,
Cut 'em some slack. These were just jobs Americans won't do. Another point, the local CBS(I think) affiliate did an expose' in 2006 which showed that some/many/most of the "bilingual" teachers in the Dallas district COULDN'T SPEAK ENGLISH!!!!!
Knucklehead of the year???

Posted on November 15, 2008 11:08

Don't blame Dallas. Blame t... (Below threshold)

3. Posted by OLDPUPPYMAX | November 15, 2008 4:36 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

OLDPUPPYMAX:

Don't blame Dallas. Blame the limp-wrist we have in the White House, selling out his country for the sake of his big time republican donors and business friends taking advantage of cheap labor. El Busho did more to damage the republican party and the nation than any president in memory, including the thug in chief, Clinton. Law enforcement is the job of the executive branch and it became an 8 year joke...unless of course you had the misfortune of being a determined border guard. Two of them are in jail while illegals collect Social Security. Congrats, El Busho!

Posted on November 15, 2008 16:36

Oldpuppy, Bush Dera... (Below threshold)

4. Posted by Codekeyguy | November 15, 2008 5:22 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

Oldpuppy,
Bush Derangement Syndrome is so old hat, pal. The Messiah is in now, so bow down to him and give him praise.
Also, you think the Dallas school district did nothing wrong? Are you TOTALLY without a functioning brain? It is a FELONY to fake a social security number, and it looks like the DISD administration is complicit.
Also, I don't doubt the ILLEGALS were getting (shall we assume?) less than a fair wage for "bilingual" teachers? Naw, Dallas wouldn't do that. Exploit Mexicans? Thwe horror.....