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Parents, advocates urge Gary board to drop or limit proposed cell towers near schools
Summary
Multiple residents and local advocates urged the Gary Community School Corporation board to halt consideration of proposed cell towers near school property, saying FCC rules are outdated and expressing health, wildlife and transparency concerns; the item was not acted on at the Sept. 11 meeting.
Jenny Werner Ham, a school social worker and board member of Gary Advocates for Responsible Development, told the Gary Community School Corporation board on Sept. 11 that the proposed cell-tower item had been removed from the meeting agenda and urged the district to abandon plans for towers on occupied school property. "I am hopeful that the omission of the cell tower from the agenda means that the board has listened to feedback and is looking to not move forward with this proposal," she said.
Other residents pressed the board on health and transparency grounds. Linda Collins, who said she lives adjacent to the Gary Middle School property under consideration, cited her reading about radiofrequency effects and warned of possible health risks to children: "Children are more vulnerable to radio frequency, radiation." Doctor Spanglenberg and other commenters criticized the timing and availability of agenda materials online, saying residents had little time to review proposals and associated documents before the meeting.
Speakers also referenced the Federal Communications Commission and argued its rules have not been updated to reflect modern technology. "The FCC regulations ... have not been updated since 1996," one commenter said, urging caution and noting the rules do not address cumulative exposure or children's developmental vulnerability.
Community members pointed to decisions in other jurisdictions that restrict towers near schools and urged the Gary board to consider a formal local resolution. Several speakers also raised related concerns — including contract terms and long service agreements — that could leave closed or redeveloped school buildings subject to long-term tower leases.
No formal board action on a cell-tower contract or ordinance was recorded at the meeting. Board members acknowledged public comment; the item was not on the board's published agenda that evening and no vote on a tower agreement took place.
