Facilities committee to forward Crown Castle lease extension for cell tower pending legal review

The Facilities Committee voted on April 30 to forward a proposed lease extension with Crown Castle for a cell tower located on district property (the Middle School/High School D site), contingent on legal review.

Staff reported that the cell-tower lease originated in 2012 and that Sprint had recently decommissioned its equipment at the site. Facilities staff said Crown Castle is seeking to attract new carriers such as Verizon, which typically requires a 20-year lease; the proposed extension would extend the lease term to 25 years and increase rental terms to $11.17 to $2,050 (figures as presented in the committee memo). Staff said legal counsel (Michelle and Kevin Bringewatt referenced in the transcript) was reviewing the contract; committee members voted to send the item to the full board “pending legal review.”

A committee member asked whether the district might need the land in the future or wish to sell it; facilities staff answered that the school footprint had been designed around the existing tower and that if the property were conveyed it would likely transfer with the tower lease in place. The committee did not adopt or approve the lease extension at the meeting; the action was to forward the proposed contract to the board with the recommendation that legal complete review and provide comments.

Staff did not identify any immediate permitting or construction steps associated with the lease extension during committee discussion. The item will return to the full board after legal review, per the committee motion.