Cell tower at local school sparking debate

Wesley Chapel, Florida -  "How could they even think this would be a good idea?" questioned Susan Cali as she watched the construction of a cell phone tower on her sixth grader's school property.

Cali is among a few parents of students attending Wesley Chapel's Dr. John Long Middle School protesting the tower out of fear of the danger it may pose to their kids and the surrounding community.

"How could the school board pass this and agree and think sitting next to low level radiation like this would be a positive thing for children?" Cali stated, "Do you want your children sitting next to this for 30 hours a week, six hours a day for the next three years?"

Cali claims she was never properly informed about the tower's construction and didn't even find out about until a recent PTA meeting.

However, the Pasco County School District insists the issue was up for community debate when it was presented to the school board early last year.

"At the time the board approved it, they felt quite comfortable with the idea that it will be revenue for the county and there really was no health risk for having the cell tower on campus," Scanga told 10 Connects.  He cited research by the World Health Organization and the American Cancer Society that shows no proven health risks associated with cell phone towers.

The tower will be a money maker for the district. When you factor in installation fees and rent, Scanga says the middle school tower could generate as much as $190,000 within the first year if all six antennae are installed.

After that, the district could take in as much as $70,000 in rent.

As of now, only one cell phone company has signed up, although other companies have expressed interest according to the owner of the tower, Tech Tower.

It's the only tower among the district's three that will generate this amount of money.  Fivay High School's tower brings in $1,000 each year, according to Scanga.  He says that tower was already on the property when the district purchased it.   

Another tower is up near Land O' Lakes High School and district headquarters.  Scanga says there are discussions to bring a tower to Sun Lake High School.  An agreement was also made for Seven Oaks Elementary School, but never acted upon.

"I personally think there's no risk at all," said Scanga, who has an office near the district tower site.

Cali isn't convinced and says she's read enough research that counters the claims that the towers are safe. 

"Until they can show me proof that these things are 100% safe, they do not belong on a school with children.  These children have no say in the matter," said Cali.

The tower at Dr. John Long Middle School will be complete within two weeks.  If they can't stop the construction, Cali says she intends to keep fighting until they can bring it down.