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| Get the Cell Out - Atlanta, together with the Unhappy Taxpayer and Voter organization will present a resolution against cell towers for consideration by the DeKalb County Board of Education tonight, Feb. 11, 2013. |
See text below for the resolution that will be presented at tonight's BOE meeting in DeKalb County. It includes factual data regarding the fight against cell towers on school grounds in DeKalb County and was modeled after a resolution that was passed in the Los Angeles County School District in 2007 and updated in 2009.
You may watch tonight's school board meeting live, beginning at 6 p.m., by clicking the link below:
and then clicking the "WATCH NOW" icon.
GTCO-ATL and Unhappy Taxpayer and Voter are scheduled to speak
as #2 and #3 on the public comments agenda.
From the DeKalb Schools website: The DeKalb County Board of Education has established the first Monday in each month, with the exception of April, July, September, October and December 2013, for the work session and meetings. The July, September, October and December 2013 meetings will be combined with the business meetings and will be held on the second Monday. The April combined work session and business meeting will be held on the first Monday.
Business meetings will be held on the second Monday of each month.
All meetings begin at 6:00pm and will be held in the J. David Williamson Board Room at the DCSD Administrative & Instructional Complex, 1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard, Stone Mountain, Georgia.
MOTIONS / RESOLUTIONS PRESENTED TO
THE DEKALB COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR CONSIDERATION
SUBJECT: Wireless Telecommunications Installations
DATE NOTICED: Feb. 11, 2013
PRESENTED FOR ACTION: Feb. 11, 2013
PRESENTED BY: Ms. Cheryl Miller, Get the Cell Out - Atlanta Chapter and Ms. Viola Davis, Unhappy Taxpayer and Voter
MOVED / SECONDED BY: _______________________________
MOTION: __________________ RESOLUTION: _______________
Whereas, the health and safety of our students and employees are fundamental concerns of the DeKalb County School System;
Whereas, the financial responsibility of our school system falls upon the DeKalb County School Board in its governance responsibility;
Whereas, there continues to be considerable debate and uncertainty within the scientific community as to the potential health effects to individuals, especially children, from exposure to extremely low
frequency electromagnetic and radio-frequency radiation;
Whereas, on May 31, 2011, the World Health Organization changed the classification of electromagnetic fields to category 2b, possible human carcinogen, based on the study conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC);
Whereas, the citizens of DeKalb County have united across political, geographic, racial and other boundaries to work together in order to lobby their state government in an effort to ban cell phone towers from public school grounds;
Whereas, the DeKalb County Commissioners penned a joint letter to DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis, dated March 21, 2012, to jointly oppose any alternative methods for cell tower zoning that would not comply with county zoning or permitting ordinances already in place;
Whereas, the citizens of DeKalb County were successful in having their state government place a non-binding, advisory referendum on the DeKalb County ballot on July 31, 2012 that asked every voter if they approved of “the placement or operation of wireless telecommunications towers on public school grounds at any elementary, middle, high or charter school in the county,” and the voters returned an answer of “No” by a 62% majority, totaling more than 75,000 registered votes.
Whereas, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) reported in its December 2012 report that our school system must change in order to save its accreditation. Among these changes were noted primarily under the action items that #1) the focus must be serving the needs of the children and #2) the board must ensure that all actions and decisions of the DeKalb County Board of Education are reflective of the collective Board and consistent with approved policies and procedures and all applicable laws, regulations and standards, rather than individual board members acting independently and undermining the authority of the Superintendent to lead and manage day-to-day operations;
Whereas, cell towers operating on public school grounds do not serve an educational purpose in DeKalb County and are not necessary for moving forward toward any stated technology plans in our schools;
Whereas, cell towers place an undue financial burden upon the communities in which they would be placed, further eroding a tax base already in peril and alienating many taxpayers from further support of the district. Whereas, the Appraisal Institute, the largest global association for appraisers with more than 91 chapters worldwide, has educated its members on the potential impact of cell towers on residential property as being anywhere from 2 - 20% decline, with the larger decline in value being realized by properties closer to the tower itself;
Whereas, The full Parliament of the European Union has raised concerns about the exposure of children and young people to electromagnetic fields and continuing uncertainties about possible health risks; and therefore, adopted on April 2, 2009 a resolution encouraging 1) the establishment of setback criteria for wireless antennas, mobile phone masts and other electromagnetic emitting devices to be set within a specific distance from schools and health institutions, 2) stricter regulations and protections for residents and consumers and 3) more reliable information be made available about the effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields to citizens in an effort to prevent a "proliferation of poorly positioned masts and transmitters.”
Be it enacted…
That the DeKalb County School System shall not, now or in the future, consider or approve any proposals from telecommunication providers, tower companies, their subsidiaries or the like for the lease or sale of public school grounds for the purpose of construction, placement or operation of wireless or other telecommunications structures until such a time that these structures have been proven to the satisfaction of the World Health Organization, or similar authority of scientists and researchers known to the general public, to be safe for operation within close proximity to homes and schools.
Be it agreed to upon consent this 11th day of February, 2013.
Good job! Thanks for presenting this idea to the board last night. We appreciate your staying on top of this issue for us!
ReplyDeleteMs. Miller, we appreciate the comments that you and Ms. Davis made at the school board meeting on behalf of all the children in DeKalb.
ReplyDelete