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We are writing to convey the concerns of more than 200 Coventry High School and Hopkins Hill Elementary School neighbors, parents and students regarding the proposed Cox Communications cell towers on the school's grounds. We strongly oppose the construction of 120-foot cell towers on or near our schools and children. The remainder of this letter summarizes some of our concerns.

One of the concerns expressed by many cell tower opponents relates to potential health and safety issues associated with the proposed cell tower. Professor Ted Litovitz of Catholic University, a physicist and expert on electro-magnetic radiation, offered his pro-bono services to Walter Johnson High School in that school's successful 2004 effort to block a cell phone antenna on its property. Professor Litovitz, Professor Martin Blank of Columbia University, Professor Reba Goodman of Columbia University and many other scientists have reported adverse health effects (headaches, dizziness, fatigue, insomnia, leukemia and other cancers) from electromagnetic radiation at levels well below the FCC guidelines. The National Research Council (2008) has called for additional studies on the long-term health effects of exposure to cell towers and has recommended the form that such studies should take.

In the interim, many scientists have urged policymakers to adopt the "Precautionary Principle" and avoid exposing children to cell tower radiation. Many other countries and some jurisdictions in the U.S. have prohibited cell antennas and towers near schools due to these health and safety concerns. In the case of Coventry High School and Hopkins Hill Elementary School, potential health and safety issues are especially important because of the exposure to our children attending these schools, the staff who are employed there and the families with homes surrounding the school property.

We are also concerned that the placement of 120-foot towers would destroy the character of the established residential neighborhood that surrounds the campus of both schools. The goal of Coventry zoning laws that pertain to the location of telecommunication facilities is to encourage the placement of antennas and towers at less intrusive sites, such as on industrial and commercial lands. Erecting a tower 12 stories tall in the middle of a neighborhood of single-family homes is counter to the spirit of Coventry zoning laws. In addition, the impact on property values that would likely result from an unsightly and potentially hazardous cell tower is unfair to the many homeowners who invested in their respective neighborhoods precisely because of its current character.

We are also deeply concerned about the commercialization of Coventry’s public schools that the proposed cell towers represents. Other than as a source of funding there is no link between the cell tower and the educational mandate of CPS. Coventry School System would be leasing public property solely to generate revenue. Pursuing such options distracts school officials from their mission to provide high quality education to the children of Coventry and moves them into the arena of making money for the school. As parents, residents and taxpayers in Coventry, we continue to provide funding to our public school system in the form of income taxes, property taxes and voluntary contributions. We do not want our public schools to be raising funds by renting land to commercial enterprises.
It is also the case that the amounts that would be received by Coventry School System from Cox Communications, were the towers to be built, are extremely small relative to the Coventry School Department budget and do not justify building the tower on school property. The proposed Cell phone towers by Cox Communications at Coventry High School and Hopkins Hill Elementary School would contribute $800.00 per tower per month to the school District. The total dollars per year is $19,200.00. There are 5280 students attending which would mean that the schools get $3.64 per student per year. Coventry currently spends about $12,000 per student per year. The annual budget for Coventry Schools is $68.2 million dollars. Even at the estimated $19,200.00 income from the two towers, the amount that cell towers contribute to the annual budget is 0.028%.
When the costs of contract administration, maintenance, repair, insurance, third party verification of electromagnetic emissions and potential liability costs are considered, the net amount received is even smaller.

We are not alone in opposing the cell towers on school properties. Several jurisdictions in the United States and abroad have banned the building of cell towers on school grounds. The European Union in April 2009 adopted a resolution encouraging the establishment of setback criteria for wireless antennas and other electromagnetic emitting devices located near schools. In 2000, the Los Angeles Unified School District adopted a resolution opposing the siteing of cellular facilities on or in close proximity to schools. Palm Beach, Fla. has adopted a similar resolution, as has Vancouver, British Columbia. In February 2010 a bill was introduced in the Connecticut legislature to prohibit the siteing of a cell phone tower within 750 feet of school or day care center property. Several schools in Montgomery County — Walter Johnson and Thomas Wootton High Schools and Pyle Middle Schools — have successfully fought the building of cell towers on their campuses.

We all appreciate the need for good wireless communication services in Coventry. There are, however, alternate sites where these towers can be located to provide these services. This may cost Cox Communications more than building a tower on school property, but the appropriate use of school property is not to subsidize the profits of Cox Communications — it is to provide our children with an education that develops the student's potential to be a lifelong learner and a productive global citizen.

We urge parents of children in these schools, neighbors and concerned citizens to call your town council representative the town manager and voice your concern.

The town council at its last meeting has delayed a vote on the subject. Please attend
the next council meeting and voice your concerns.

Parents Against Cell Towers P.A.C.T.

Government
The government agencies have a bad track record in protecting us against long term threats. Think about some of the major oversights in health threats such as tobacco, lead paint, DDT, PCBs and asbestos.

Do your own research

This information was complied to give our readers the other side of the story. Many times you are given half the truth from people that have a monetary interest in putting cell towers at schools. We encourage you to read the FAQ and do your own research.

Education

Not

Radiation

Parents Against Cell Towers P.A.C.T.

Education Not Radiation

Government

Do your own research