District approves fingerprint scan pilot program for buses

Desert Sands Unified School District in La Quinta, Calif., will install the fingerprint scanning system for students on six school buses. The system will provide real-time information as to which students are riding the buses, and to what locations.

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November 17, 2010

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LA QUINTA, Calif. — Desert Sands Unified School District has approved a pilot program to install a fingerprint scanning system on six school buses serving Ronald Reagan Elementary and Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle schools.

Students riding these buses will have their fingerprints scanned by the Biometric Observation Security System during each trip, The Desert Sun reports.

The system will provide real-time information as to which students are riding the buses, and to what locations. During a crash or other emergency, this information would help school officials locate students.

The trial will run through the end of January at no cost to the district. Superintendent Sharon McGehee told the news source that parents will have the opportunity to opt their children out of the scan.

Topics:school bus security Safety

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