Phone towers at school prompt unease

By Christopher Quinn

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Parental concern over the possible negative health effects on students has Forsyth County Schools debating whether to allow the construction of cellular phone towers on school property in return for $450,000.

T-Mobile wants to build towers on the campuses of Vickery Creek and Riverwatch Middle schools and Kelly Mill Elementary School, and has offered five-year leases worth $150,000 for each location. The potential for an even more lucrative return is there if other businesses lease tower space and the leases are renewed.

A small but vocal group of parents has voiced opposition. They’ve cited radio frequency energy as a potential cause for tumors and cancer, and expressed concern that nearby home values could be negatively affected.

The potential cash infusion in these budget-challenged times is attractive, but the Forsyth County school board has not acted on the offer.

“Something that gets parents that upset, it is important to pay attention to it even if they are a minority,” said Mike Dudgeon, a Forsyth school board member.

Vickery Creek, Riverwatch and Kelly Mill schools called community meetings in January and February and about 15 people attended each gathering. Those who spoke were against leasing tower space, said Jennifer Caracciolo, schools spokeswoman.

Robert Galop has two children, one at an elementary school next to Riverwatch and a younger child who will attend the same school. After attending a meeting, Galop has inquired about private schools in case the school board moves ahead.

“It felt almost like [the board members] were seeing this extra money as a feather in their cap, rather than focusing on the safety and well-being of our children, which is what we elected them for,” Galop said.

The National Cancer Institute said exposure to cellphone signals is not dangerous, citing multiple studies. However, a few study anomalies have some scientists and doctors asking for more conclusive testing.

There is precedence for metro Atlanta schools both accepting and rejecting cellphone tower offers. Gwinnett and DeKalb counties turned down leasing opportunities over health and aesthetic concerns. Cobb County has allowed 25 towers on its campuses, receiving $30,000 to $150,000 for each for five years.

Dudgeon, the Forsyth school board member, has two sons who attend one of the schools earmarked for a cellphone tower. He’s not concerned. He’s an electrical engineer and said tower signals are relatively weak and not dangerous. He stressed that cellphones held to an ear have emissions that are “hundreds if not thousands of times more powerful” than a tower’s emissions.

Deciding what to do will be a balancing act between parents’ concerns and money, said Ann Crow, Forsyth school board chairman.

A decision is expected by May, when the Forsyth board will complete next year’s budget.