Most of us don't know about the controversial telecommunications cell tower being proposed for installation on Glen Cove High School property. You should know, and more importantly, you should voice your concerns for the inconclusive health effects for our students and teachers, our residents living near the site and the negative impact it brings to our community and school.

Last June, our school board unanimously approved this 100-foot tower with Sprint PCS without any public notice to the residents, the parents, the students attending the school, or the teachers. The only public knowledge was the meeting itself. The meeting included only 5 of the 7 school board members. Therefore five people made this decision affecting all of us!

With such a controversial subject, our school board fed into the one-sided presentation from Sprint, believing their slick sales pitch, and not investigating the potential for negative impact on possible health issues this would have on the community and school population. By agreeing to a deal that pays the school $24,000 per year, the school board is taking inconsequential revenue weighed against an unproven health risk. The cell-tower industry has been canvassing communities and taking advantage of cash-strapped schools, churches and towns. Most smart town municipalities are forcing the predatory cell companies to install antennas on towers regulated by the municipalities themselves. The cell companies should share one or two towers for their respective antennas, and more importantly, they should place such towers away from residences and schools. This approach keeps the number of towers to a minimum, not allowing an abundance of individual cell-service providers to erect their own tower, and it ensures proper placement. The cell companies hate this approach because it is cheaper for them to erect their own tower.

Our school board showed no foresight, it did exactly the opposite of what a lot of educated school boards are doing across the country, which is passing resolutions that prohibit their land use for installation of these cell towers.

Of course, the cellular industry will tout the safety of their towers, that the FCC states the level of electromagnetic radiation is safe (the FCC has the least protective standards in this matter than the rest of the world). More important to this controversy is current research shows that an industry-sponsored study has members of their own study coming out and expressing serious doubts. To quote such member, Dr. Henry Lai, "If you had asked me a year ago if there is an effect from exposure to cell-tower radiation, my answer would have been no" but just in the past eight to ten months, research has been published that has caused Lai to rethink his position. He states that no research has yet to be done on the possible cumulative effects of low-level tower emissions on those living near or spending hours near the transmitters, and that a half dozen studies done in the past few years link low-level EMF exposure to a variety of health problems. The cell industry touts that the radiation is similar to a leaking microwave. However, in reality, do you actually sit in front of your running microwave oven 24 hours a day? These cell towers are transmitting and receiving microwave radiation frequencies 24 hours a day. Therefore, students, faculty and maintenance people are being exposed every moment they're at school. For students who play sports, this can be as much as 12 hours a day, and to make it worse, the playing fields are directly underneath the tower. Some municipalities have passed fall ordinances to prevent any risk of towers toppling on their children, an accident waiting to happen.

The negative effect on our property values has been proven. Property values were affected by the Glenwood Landing area from the high-voltage transmission wires, and other water tower cell antennae installations in Glen Head. Re-assessed values to our property lower the taxes collected. Obviously, the City of Glen Cove will lose far more in property taxes than the school board will gain in annual revenues.

It's up to us as parents and residents to safeguard this questionable health risk to our children and ourselves, this eyesore to our community. We are the last line of defense.

There is currently a site in a remote spot on the Glen Cove golf course being shared by other cell carriers. Sprint has the option to use this site, with a great share of revenues going to the City of Glen Cove. Why doesn't Sprint want to use this sight? Because it will cost them considerably more money and obviously that is their only concern. My only concern is the health and safety of our school children and surrounding neighbors.

Why take any risk particularly at a school or in a residential neighborhood when no one knows the long- term effects. Put pressure on your school board as well as the mayor and City Council of Glen Cove. This decision now rests in the hands of the Glen Cove Planning Board - attend the next meeting at City Hall and tell them no tower!

Bob Garcia