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District approves finger-touch point-of-sale system for student meal accounts
Summary
To reduce account mis-keys and speed lunch lines, the board approved a $13,000 purchase of a FocalTech True BioScan touch-based finger association system to be paid from the food-service fund; the early-learning center will be excluded from the rollout and a pilot in one building is recommended.
The Westfield-Washington Schools board approved purchase of a touch-based finger-association point-of-sale system for student meal accounts.
Administration described a plan to move from ID-number entry to a FocalTech True BioScan touch system, which district staff said associates a student's finger-touch with the existing ID number but does not retain a fingerprint image. "It's not taking an actual fingerprint... it's just the way your finger touches the screen," a food-service representative said, describing the Noblesville pilot the district studied. Administration requested a one-time purchase of about $13,000 to be paid from the food-service fund.
Officials said a pilot at one building would allow staff to work out logistics; the district will not include the Early Learning Center in the initial rollout. The technology team and food-service staff described a plan to enroll students classroom-by-classroom to avoid long disruptions to instructional time.
The board moved, seconded and approved the purchase by voice vote. Administration said the system could speed lines and reduce account-matching errors but that staff would track progress and operational impacts as the pilot and later rollout proceed.
