© KPLCTV
Mark of the Beast: A Louisiana public school's decision to purchase palm scanners to speed up lunch lines and payments has been met with religious opposition.
Mark of the Beast: A Louisiana public school's decision to purchase palm scanners to speed up lunch lines and payments has been met with religious opposition.
"I was very, very mad," said parent Mamie Sonnier. "Disappointed."
Many parents felt that way on Monday after reading a letter sent home with their children from Moss Bluff Elementary School. The letter introduced a new program, the palm vein scanner, to move students through the lunch line at a faster rate. With almost 1,000 students, Principal Charles Caldarera says the system will reduce errors.
"We are so large," said Caldarera. "With an elementary school, they all come through line, and most of them eat here. It would make us more efficient and more accurate. We've had parents complain in the past, because they felt like their children weren't eating, that we assigned them a charge for the day, and they might have been right."
Caldarera says the school is acting on a recommendation from school food service director Patricia Hosemann. But he says the letter gives parents an option.
"We sent this letter home for parents to be aware of it, and to let them know that they can opt out," said Caldarera. "They can opt out and say, hey, I don't want my child involved in it. That's quite alright. It won't make any difference. The children will still be able to eat in the cafeteria."
