Two Lakeridge High School neighbors told the Lake Oswego School Board they want clear answers about access and testing for the new Verizon cell tower on the Lakeridge campus.

Annalie Adams said she learned in the previous month that Ziply Fiber had planned to access private property to connect to the tower and that the company had been working under an old, apparently voided franchise utility permit. Adams asked whether Ziply or other contractors could connect or upgrade equipment without district consent, and asked the board to clarify the monthly lease payment and the tower’s listed end date; she cited two different figures she found in public records ($2,719.46 and $2,415.77) and said the agenda listed a current term ending in 5/16/2029 while the contract shows an expiration in 2039.

Ben Adams asked whether the district had identified a testing contractor and urged testing that models real‑world exposure at eye level and over long durations rather than short technician readings. He asked whether test modeling would use occupational standards (e.g., OSHA cumulative exposure) given residents’ concern about 24‑hour exposure near an antenna.

CFO Mike Ketzler (district financial officer) briefed the board on the district’s seven cell‑site leases, explaining that most leases were structured with lessee options to renew in five‑year blocks and that the district generally does not have the unilateral right to end a lease at the end of a current five‑year term without compensating the lessee. Ketzler said the district collects roughly $225,000 a year across the seven leases and that some individual lease payments increase on five‑year renewals or by annual increments tied to formula clauses. He acknowledged the payment figure discrepancy brought up by Adams and said Crown Castle confirmed a $2,719.46 monthly payment for one listed Crown Castle site; he said the difference likely resulted from prior schedules or late payments and would be clarified in records.

Ketzler said Ziply was contracted by a wireless carrier (Verizon) to do fiber work and that the work was represented to the district as taking place within public franchise rights of way, not on district property; he noted any franchise or easement questions on private property would be a city permitting matter. He said the district has paused extension discussions and will consider renewals or negotiations in calendar 2026 for leases that come up within the next two years.

Ketzler also told the board the district evaluated multiple firms and has selected Apex to conduct radio‑frequency and related environmental testing; the district expects to finalize an agreement and asked Apex to present their analysis and measurements at a December board meeting. Board members discussed legal limits on district authority, potential relocation or buyout costs, and that leases dating to the mid‑1990s were entered during a different fiscal era. Several board members emphasized the need to design a testing plan that addresses neighbors’ specific measurement requests but cautioned the district cannot test every private residence and must balance precedent and resources.

No formal action was taken at the meeting to alter lease terms; staff said they will complete the testing agreement with Apex and return to the board with the firm’s results and recommendations.