Although several South Butler County School Board members and district residents aren't in favor of a cell phone tower being built near Knoch High School, there doesn't seem to be much the board can do.
Residents have voiced concerns about potential health problems and decreased property values to the school board and Jefferson Township Supervisors.
Supervisors said in February since the towers are federally regulated and the township does not have an ordinance, their hands are tied.
On Wednesday, school directors realized they're basically in the same position.
According to district spokesman Todd O'Shell, the board has taken steps to investigate the tower's safety.
Initially, the board approved its solicitor, Thomas Breth, to send a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requesting the regulations as far as the proximity of cell phone towers to schools and the health effects.
The proposed tower is to be built about 52 feet from the high school soccer field.
O'Shell said the response was a referral to the FCC's Web site, which includes the data requested. Since the towers are federally regulated, he said the health effects could not be questioned. However, the safety could.
Therefore, the solicitor began an investigation of the proposed structure's safety. The solicitor reported to the board Wednesday that two engineers have offered quotes on evaluating the tower plans to determine whether they're structurally sound.
Breth said that process could cost "easily $10,000."
If the structure is deemed unsafe, Breth said the company building it, Chesapeake Towers Development of Washington, D.C., is likely to come back with its experts saying the structure isn't flawed.
Since similar towers are most likely built across the country, Breth said it would be unlikely that the company would take responsibility for any flaws as that would create liabilities for them in other regions.
Board member Glenn Lang said although he's against the tower, he doesn't see spending the money to pursue a losing battle.
"I think we'd be throwing good money away for no good reason," he said. "I don't want people to think I'm for the tower because I'm not. I just don't see wasting the money."
In other business:
• Assistant Superintendent Victor Morrone was hired as an educational consultant at a rate of $400 a day or about $88,000 annually, without benefits.
As a retired superintendent, Morrone can only work for one year in that position according to O'Shell, and his year ends June 30. Since the district wanted to retain Morrone, it created this agreement which basically has him doing the same daily duties as he has as an assistant superintendent but on a consultant basis. The agreement is good for up to three years.
• The board will hold a facilities and grounds meeting at 7 p.m. April 30 in the middle school library to discuss the overcrowding issue at the high school. Some classes have been forced into the middle school area because of the crowding. O'Shell said committee members will discuss ideas for solving the problem, possibly with a minor renovation that adds some classrooms and activity areas.
• The board approved the Behind the Wheel summer driving instruction program at a cost of $200 per student. Students can enroll in the program and take advantage of teachers who are certified in driver training, which will lead to insurance breaks.
• Elementary teacher Candace Bauer is retiring at the conclusion of the first semester of the 2008-09 school year.
• Christian Reiser, director of building and grounds, also was hired as the district's energy education manager at a salary of $12,000. The district enrolled in an energy savings plan to save $1.6 million over a 10-year period, O'Shell said.
• Several educational trips were approved including: Superintendent Frank Prazenica attending The Law and Education Institute at State College at a $1,302 cost to the district, All-State Orchestra Festival in Hershey for qualified band members at a $1,030 cost to the district, and the Innovative Forensic Science Strategies attended by Melissa Venesky, $310 cost to the district. Grant-funded trips were also approved for the Secondary Student Assistance Training conference funded by the Drug Free Grant and Connecting Boys to Books funded by Title I.
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South Butler board can do little to stop cell tower
Source: Pittsburgh Tribune- Review
Date: 04/10/2008
