Cell Phone Towers Public Study Session Happening Tuesday

The San Marino Unified School District released the following Monday:

This is a reminder that the Board of Education will hold a Public Study Session on October 23, 2012, at 5:00 p.m. at the Huntington Middle School auditorium to consider information from third-party experts in response to recent inquires from some parents concerning the cell towers that have been located on district property since 2004.

We encourage everyone who has questions or concerns to attend tomorrow's Study Session to hear firsthand from a panel of experts.  We have actively sought out several experts to share relevant research and findings.  While the Board's decision will ultimately be based on the best information available, we have included a Public Comment period to tomorrow's agenda to give community members an opportunity to remark on the presentations.

We believe that tomorrow's Study Session will be an opportunity for all of us to gather additional information so that we can be as informed as possible.

PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENT:

Dear Parents and Community Members,

The Board of Education and District Administration have recently received inquiries from parents concerned about cell towers located on District property. The District currently has two cell towers, one of which is located in the District's Maintenance Yard, and the other of which is located on the upper west driveway of San Marino High School. The cell towers have been in place since 2004 and 2006 pursuant to Board action taken at public meetings.  In response to these concerns, the District is taking the following actions:

1.         The District has engaged the services of independent third-party experts who have extensive experience in studying radio frequency (RF) emissions associated with cell towers and is seeking out additional experts in this field. The experts will be measuring and documenting existing exposures in and around school areas and the general community, and they will be evaluating the information provided by the concerned parents.  Part of the evaluation will include a review of scientific studies, as well as the latest scientific advisory reports from recognized experts, both individuals and organizations.

2.         The cell carriers that own the towers have been contacted and asked to provide the District with recent Site Compliance Reports.

3.         The Board of Education will hold a Public Study Session on October 23, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. at the Huntington Middle School auditorium to review the following:

            a.         Reports from third-party experts including, but not limited to, a report detailing RF exposure levels and test results, reviewing scientific studies and reports, as well as evaluating data provided by parents.

            b.         Report regarding the status of other school districts and their position on cell phone towers;

            c.         Report regarding the status of the agreements with the cell carriers as well as potential legal exposure and liability should the agreements be terminated; and,

            d.         Report regarding budgetary consequences to District educational programs if cell towers are removed.

This Study Session will also provide an opportunity for public comments.

4.         The Board of Education will consider all of the information in its evaluation of the cell towers located on District property.