Carroll County Halts School Palm Scanner Installation

WESTMINSTER, Md. (AP) -- Carroll County's schools superintendent says he's halting palm scanner installation in county schools until further notice.

Superintendent Steve Guthrie made the announcement at a Board of Education meeting Wednesday. Parents have expressed privacy concerns about the scanners in cafeteria lines at some schools. School officials have said they hope to have the scanners in all 43 county schools in the next year and a half. The machines pull up a student's account with a scan of the palm and allow students to get through the cafeteria line.

The Carroll County Times reports Guthrie announced the halt in response to a request that he look into asking parents to opt into the program instead of out.

Scanners will continue to be used in 10 schools where they have been installed.

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