Installation of Fujitsu palm scanners in Louisiana school district delayed

The installation of a palm vein payment system from Fujitsu has been delayed at Bossier Parish Schools in Louisiana, just days after the system was announced.

Reported in KSLA, some parents raised concerns about privacy and felt they had no notice before implementation.

The scanners were set to be installed at Waller Elementary School this week, though this has now been delayed based on parent concerns. That being said, the system will still be installed at Waller Elementary and Sun City Elementary, after Spring Break on April 2.

A letter signed by the district superintendent has gone out to parents clarifying the aspects of the system, including the fact that this is not a mandatory system and that parents can opt-out without impacting their child’s participating in the school’s food service program.

Fujitsu PalmSecure scanners will be used for the system, along with MCS nutrition management software.

According to the KSLA report, the Fujitsu system will cost the school district $375,000 over a 5-year period. A total of 71 scanners will be installed throughout the district’s 35 schools.

Reported previously in BiometricUpdate.com, Fujitsu’s PalmSecure system has been in the news as its implementation at Carroll County public schools has also been halted following complaints from the community. In addition, Republican state senator Joseph M. Getty has recently proposed a bill that would ban the gathering of biometric data from school children in Maryland.

The Sinton Independent School District in Texas has introduced a similar biometric system for its school buses.

Article Topics

Fujitsu  |  Palm  |  palm vein authentication  |  payment  |  POS  |  schools