UPDATE: Cosumnes Oaks Cell Tower Would Be Located on Football Field

Update:

Just a couple of parents attended Thursday's meeting at regarding a possible MetroPCS cell phone tower on the campus, but both said they worried about the impact on their children's health if the tower were approved.

"I don't see any amount of money being worth taking the risk until there's more studies done [on the towers' safety]," said Janice Hidalgo, whose son is a junior at the school.

The proposed cell station would be located on the parking lot side of the school's football stadium and disguised as a light pole, associate superintendent Robert Pierce said. It would likely be more than 10 meters high, meaning the Federal Communications Commission would not require an environmental review of the project.

A single antenna would generate about $2,000 per month in lease payments, but revenue from multiple antennas at Cosumnes Oaks and other campuses could quickly add up, Pierce said.

"If you put a bunch of them on one site, you could save a job," he said.

While both Pierce and MetroPCS consultant Timothy Miller told the audience they believed the towers are safe, parent Brian Russell said he'd like to hear that from an impartial scientific expert.

"My questions aren't answered yet," said Russell, whose daughter spends time on the football field as a cheerleader. "I'd like to find out more."

Cosumnes Oaks students there to cover the event for took a different view.

"The pros outweigh the cons," said junior Josiah Sloan. "I see teachers getting laid off and on a more superficial level, better cell phone service would be nice. I think we're so used to seeing wireless technology, it doesn't scare the younger generation."

Pierce said the school board would likely try to get feedback from a broader cross-section of community members before moving forward.

Original story:

Elk Grove Unified School District officials will hold a public meeting at Thursday to discuss locating a cell phone tower on campus.

Cell phone company MetroPCS approached the district recently with the request, said associate superintendent Rob Pierce.

Cell towers are becoming increasingly common in places like schools and parks as companies seek to expand their networks and public agencies scramble for funding. Districts can earn thousands of dollars per month in rental fees from the sites.

Elk Grove Unified has in the past resisted overtures from cell companies about the sites, which can spark opposition from parents and neighbors concerned about how the antennas look and whether they pose a health hazard.

But at a school board meeting Jan. 3, board members .

"We need to be mindful that we will be getting a lot of concern from community members," board member Jeanette Amavisca said at that meeting. "[But] I'd rather get the money than the [Cosumnes Community Services District] or anyone else."

Pierce said the Cosumnes Oaks meeting is aimed at hearing feedback from the school community before moving forward with negotiations, rather than discussing a specific proposal.

The meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. in the school's multipurpose room.

In response to inquiries from Elk Grove Patch, a MetroPCS spokesperson did not confirm or deny the negotiations with the district, but released this statement:  "MetroPCS continues to expand the network and is focused on delivering a premium mobile experience that meets customers' expanding wireless needs."

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