Board hears preliminary discussion of Verizon site access behind Sapphire Elementary

District business staff told the Monroe-Woodbury Board of Education on Dec. 19 that Verizon Wireless has requested a site-access agreement to survey a wooded area behind Sapphire Elementary School as a potential location for a cellular tower.

"They're looking at the feasibility of that site," said Mr. Cahill, the district's business and financial officer, describing the request as preliminary. He said the proposed tower would be approximately 650 to 700 feet from the school, located behind the buildings and the grounds garage in a stand of woods.

Cahill said the site-access agreement would allow Verizon to conduct surveying and testing to determine whether the location is feasible and that no district decision to permit installation had been made. "Nothing further will be done without a discussion," another board member noted during the meeting.

Cahill said improved cellular coverage was the main rationale given by Verizon, citing safety and communication benefits from better cell service. He also said Verizon had discussed adding an internet connection to the district's microcomputer center as part of the arrangement and that, if pursued, the district could receive lease payments from a long-term lease with the carrier.

Board members did not vote to approve construction, a lease, or any final site plan; the business and financial items that were approved by the board included the site-access agreement only as a preliminary authorization for surveying. No lease terms, financial amounts, or environmental or engineering findings were presented at the Dec. 19 meeting.