Study of WiFi health effects rejected
Oceanside Star
Published: Thursday, June 28, 2012
Trustees bickered Tuesday during debate on whether to look into the health effects of WiFi in schools.
Trustee Julie Austin proposed striking a district committee to research the health effects and role of WiFi in schools.
She was concerned about possible health effects of radio-frequency electromagnetic fields emitted from wireless technology.
It would not be an onerous task to strike a committee to research and report on this, she said, especially "when we are talking about our children's health." It would be "sad" to not look into the subject, she said.
Director of Instruction Gillian Wilson said WiFi has already been studied by the school district and information is available.
Austin called the available information "woefully lacking."
Wilson continued, asking Austin what the board would do if the committee, as she suspects, finds conflicting reports on whether or not WiFi is a health danger.
Vice-Chair Barry Kurland said it's not in the school board's realm to make a decision for every school in the district. He suggest Parent Advisory Councils could handle the situation.
Austin replied that PACs are already too busy, to which Kurland responded that perhaps that shows WiFi is not a high priority for research.
"It's all about information, Barry," replied Austin, before Chair Lynette Kershaw ended the discussion and called a vote.
Her proposal was defeated.
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