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Biometrics Allows Students to Purchase with Fingerprint

School uses a biometric system developed especially for schools and has two fingerprint readers set up in the school's cafeteria.

Students at some K-12 schools no longer have to bring their lunch money. The ability to purchase food is right at their fingertips. Through a process called biometrics a student's fingerprint is scanned on a machine that links to a personal account set up in advance by parents.

"The parents have said that it's really great to simply deposit the money and know it's there," said Mike Tubbs, information technology manager at JSerra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. "The kids don't have to take money to school and parents can simply know their children will be buying lunch every day." The school uses a biometric system developed especially for schools and has two fingerprint readers set up in the school's cafeteria.

Biometrics is also being used at three schools in Texas at the Fairfield School District. "The majority of parents here think it's great," said Crystal Thill, food service director for the district. "They know that their money is going for their child, instead of somebody else using their account."

The fingerprint is not stored as an image -- something that other agencies would need for their files. It is stored as mathematical information only. "We explained to parents that the fingerprint is not taken as it would be in law enforcement, where it would be rolled in ink and pressed," said Tubbs. "It is simply a mathematical 'map' of the fingerprint digitally stored and used only here for purchases. Our computer system is also a local, secure system, not open externally."

Click here for more information about school lunch biometric identification systems.