PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT: 7/11/11 DeKalb County School Board Meeting - They Don't Care

Don McChesney proposes to remove

Meadowview, Brockett and Medlock Elementary Schools

from the cell tower proposal for 12 schools.

Question by Donna Edler to McChesney:  Why?
McC:  We've heard from these communities and they've been clear,

so I'm supporting their opinion.

Vote on McChesney's ammendment:  approved 7:1

(Donna Edler votes no as she states she favors removing all schools, not just three.)

Speaks:  Is there a grace period so that other communities can speak up

but haven't had the opportunity?  (audience spontaneously applauds.)

Paul Womack, acting chair in lieu of Tom Bowen's absense, admonishes them.

Speaks:  Is there a mechanism for other communities

to let the district know that they have an issue?

Ramona Tyson (interim superintendent): 

no option other than to pull the item.

Womack:  Isn't there a 6-month window?
Steve Donahue (Facilities Director in charge of the cell tower committee): 

T-mobile has 6 months for due diligence.

Nancy Jester:  concerned about many things.  I don't like the timing -

we didn't get this till Friday.  Didn't get financials.  Term is too long. 

I favor an opt-in rather than an opt-out for communities. 

There may be others we haven't heard from so I am reticent to support.

...

...

Donna Edler:  It's not the school system's business to provide

cell and Internet service to the county.

Vote on Edler's ammendment to remove all towers except two

(Lakeside and Briarlake) - Motion fails.

Vote on the main motion

(minus the three schools removed

during the McChesney ammendment): 

Passes 6:2

(Edler and Jester vote no)

------ Fast forward to 8/31/11 ------
Get the Cell Out - Atlanta Chapter
FEEDBACK...

From South DeKalb, "I spoke with the Director of Planning yesterday...
He said that the school board has the power

to go ahead with the construction
and the county has no say whatsoever. 

The state law gives them that rite to totally ignore our local zoning laws."

From North DeKalb, "Just talked to (Planning Department) -

she is going to try and find the governing law / regulation and get back to me. 

She confirmed there will be no hearing and no vote."

Also from North DeKalb, "On the proposed location #2 file,

why is my neighbor's house labeled #3?"

September 2011

Meeting is held by PTA at request of Paul Womack

to reassure parents at Briarlake Elementary School
that 120 towers in a 4-mile radius is not excessive.

District School Board Representative Paul Womack

to a parent who feels forced to move:

"I don't care."

www.thepetitionsite.com/1/GTCO-ATL
(Get the Cell Out - Atlanta)

Please oppose cell towers
at all schools in DeKalb County, GA.

Our future depends on it.