[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6242142,"mediaKeyId","3248222-3ddc83bc6b76727abdca128ecbc2b641","parentId",3248222,"title","Middle Country updates parents on finger‑scan cafeteria payments; district says templates, not fingerprints, are stored under FERPA protections","audioSeconds",3117,"startMs",3263000,"endMs",6380000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3248222-3ddc83bc6b76727abdca128ecbc2b641&start=3263&end=6380","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3248222-3ddc83bc6b76727abdca128ecbc2b641/thumbnail_3263000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6242142/New-York/Middle-Country-updates-parents-on-fingerscan-cafeteria-payments-district-says-templates-not-fingerprints-are-stored-under-FERPA-protections","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6242142-42892b6a4bb745460136d1d16dc00e6f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770878799&Signature=bTs~hVbrssqwIXrP1YHHHecZkMzJIBtvtObr4XReTaUMxRbWzyKtxwlrN48Zi~wrzl9S5xlXrSXznW7NRgWZsfOHcEtHZIqUxRj8b4i~E40p3SLPuVVrR6WC9PiVLLPVPBQDm41VPMTRm-KBxG3wxOnWtACcWqiXC2JX-X8tJHRDoamFktp5TaOWJkITx-Rem3cTtql7ePtWaU~~zMUlcet~rm~tabbzOWpygsTCl9I6qWRAcumztAJNVWXhzN4yHaKo5lxS-gfuwLoPthD1wz3FRfdqcatsMRi~uTaR0Xpy6aK0BtTncA-D9~3ZZbia6sYq6GzqXKXZQs6GWIMC6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-08T12:32:20Z","article","Middle Country Central School District food‑service staff gave a status report on a finger‑scan system for elementary school cafeteria purchases, saying the platform stores an encrypted numeric template linked to a student’s lunch account and does not retain a fingerprint image.

Sharon Dyke, who presented the update, said the vendor converts scanned finger points to an encrypted binary number that is associated with the student’s lunch account; the vendor and district store that template, not an image of a fingerprint. “It is not possible in this platform to create a fingerprint from the data that is collected,” Dyke told the board. She added that the template is protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Pilot scope and privacy: The district is piloting the Identimetrics system in grades 1–5 at four elementary schools this school year—Holbrook Road, New Lane, Stagecoach and Eugene Auer (onboarding soon)—and plans to add the remaining elementary schools next year. Dyke said parents may opt their children out; the district reported the opt‑out rate across participating schools as under 3%.

Operational effects: Presenters said the system reduces transaction time—about two seconds per student at the register—reduces errors from misentered ID numbers or lost cards, and helps identify the correct student for allergy and account data. Dyke said the system reads two index‑finger points, creates an encrypted template, and stores that template behind district firewalls; the district retains the template while the student is enrolled and deletes the template when a student graduates or leaves the district.

Questions and access: Dyke said access to the stored templates is limited to authorized district personnel and that the template cannot be converted to a fingerprint for law‑enforcement or other uses. She also noted the vendor designed the platform specifically for K‑12 food service to avoid linking biometric data to other district platforms such as PowerSchool.

The board heard the summary as a status report; no formal approval or new policy was taken at the meeting. Dyke encouraged parents with questions to contact the food‑service office.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Middle Country CSD Live Stream - Budget Hearing and Board of Education Regular Meeting - 5/7/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Food‑service staff described an Identimetrics pilot in elementary schools that stores encrypted templates (not fingerprint images) linked to lunch accounts, is protected under FERPA, and has under 3% opt‑out in the pilot schools; staff said the system speeds lunch lines and reduces misidentification errors.","taxTitle","MIDDLE COUNTRY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Districts, New York","taxId",13430,"location","New York","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6242147,"Middle Country proposes $304 million budget, stays within 2.21% tax‑levy cap; contingent budget would force cuts",782,1093000,1875000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3248222-3ddc83bc6b76727abdca128ecbc2b641&start=1093&end=1875","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3248222-3ddc83bc6b76727abdca128ecbc2b641/thumbnail_1093000.jpg","/articles/6242147/New-York/Middle-Country-proposes-304-million-budget-stays-within-221-taxlevy-cap-contingent-budget-would-force-cuts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6242147-ebaaccc48ee1220863510c2e2ec3fcfb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770878799&Signature=YGIr9p0XbIrcRfiNvWMAF1pz1Qhjya5yvBB29jPPemkGj0y-cUyD1DASbdqe-Vxb9wIiptOR7CzJBg6Wh13vxU-hxzZtMAb24~5OIKdUp7N0uRGX2pVjTy5yu3oxHQ7ZH3E2ZKBsng3bAiBpGqQ1YY89KDOvBU~CzofXVt10i2JVaKSBCxiyeUxFfpYh4E-Dz5SsKgBn8h6w663s6ZhzvXo25zss7k5y0ildyUaLSVSAN1MQERYgGWcBRJn25m3qmlabCtU0qXPRhKSxihWdwyNZ4rGY9IXdX87lhXEqUp4jHOJMhcAYcFxCQr-dNhyHGOwCL5PYtLsoSBR0nHo7Lw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Middle Country Central School District presented a proposed 2025–26 budget of about $304 million that the district says stays within a 2.21% tax‑levy cap and would translate, for a representative property, to roughly $182 more per year.

The presentation on the budget emphasized year‑round planning and the district’s mission to “empower and inspire all students” while noting rising costs for health care, special education, transportation, retirement and utilities. The presenter said district reserve balances have fallen roughly 50% over the last six years and that the district’s fiscal stress score is 21.7 points, a level that does not trigger a formal designation by the state comptroller.

Why it matters: The budget funds classroom programs for more than 9,500 pre‑K–12 students, including a universal full‑day pre‑K program, vocational and BOCES options, athletics and extracurriculars. District officials told the board that continued underfunding of state aid would require either program reductions, higher taxes or heavier use of reserves.

Key points from the presentation included: the district’s per‑pupil spending of about $25,000, which the presenter said is below the Suffolk County average of $28,000 and the New York State average of $26,000; a proposed expenditure increase of about 3.33% over the current budget; and the district’s reliance on two primary revenue sources—property taxes and state aid.

District staff noted the board is planning to remain within the statutorily driven tax‑levy cap of 2.21% for 2025–26. The presenter said that if voters reject the budget and the district must operate under a contingent budget, the district would face an estimated $3.5 million gap that “could affect our programs and staffs” and potentially lead to cuts in pre‑K offerings, electives, BOCES placements, class size, field trips, late buses and some extracurricular activities.

Board business at the same meeting included routine minutes and consent items; a motion to accept the consent agenda and a motion to appoint a Board of Registry for the annual district meeting were both carried by voice vote.

Budget materials and supporting department presentations are posted on the district website, and the presenter encouraged residents to use the online calculator to see the projected tax impact using the assessor figure provided by the Town of Brookhaven.

The board did not take a final vote on the budget during the meeting. District staff and board members urged voters to participate in the scheduled budget vote; the presenter reminded the public of the upcoming budget vote and gave polling hours and a link to a poll finder.","District presenters outlined a $304 million spending plan that stays inside a 2.21% tax‑levy cap and relies less on reserves than prior years; presenters warned a contingent budget would leave a $3.5 million shortfall that could affect pre‑K, electives and extracurriculars.","actionData","errors"]

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Middle Country updates parents on finger‑scan cafeteria payments; district says templates, not fingerprints, are stored under FERPA protections

Middle Country proposes $304 million budget, stays within 2.21% tax‑levy cap; contingent budget would force cuts