Residents of Ada township have mixed reactions to the proposal of building a telecommunications tower in Forest Hills Eastern Middle/High School. The local community of Forest Hills Public Schools is considering installing a 195-meter tower to improve the cellular network coverage in the area. Some families are concerned about the potential health effects associated with prolonged exposure to 5G telecommunications services, while others believe that improving the cellular network coverage is more important.
During a community meeting held in the district, worried parents and residents raised questions about the health effects of exposure to telecommunication towers and whether alternative locations were being considered. The district assured participants that federal guidelines regarding the placement of telecommunication towers near schools and homes would be followed. However, some residents, like Heidi Cottrell, believe these guidelines are outdated and inadequately consider the potential risks to children.
On the other hand, district leaders argue that the proposed tower would solve the problems related to low cellular network coverage at the school. Currently, students and staff are unable to dial the emergency 911 number in case of an emergency. Kasen Wooters, a second-grade student at Forest Hills Eastern, emphasized the communication difficulties with parents when on school grounds. He believes that improving the cellular network coverage is essential for the safety of students, especially in light of the prevalence of school shootings nationwide.
Some parents, like Chris Wherry, suggest that the district should expand the Wi-Fi network capabilities to allow for Wi-Fi usage on the school grounds, but others believe that this will not adequately solve the cellular network coverage issue. Wherry argues that the current Wi-Fi network is inconvenient and unreliable, rendering it ineffective in emergency situations. In his opinion, the proposed telecommunications tower offers a faster and more comprehensive solution.
The Forest Hills Board announced that a vote on the telecommunications tower proposal will take place on January 15th. Residents have been encouraged to submit alternative proposals to the district if they believe there are more suitable solutions to the cellular network coverage problem. The decision will have a significant impact on the community as both sides of the debate continue to express their opinions.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
The source of the article is from the blog scimag.news