School board lack of knowledge troubling

The article regarding debate by Naperville Unit District 203 over leasing of space for cell towers was both disturbing and enlightening.

The disturbing part was that we have school board members who appear impervious to the overwhelming scientific evidence that these towers pose no health risk. In my career as an industrial hygienist, my experience with the debate over health effects from radio frequency radiation goes back to 1971.

Over the years it has come to be known among health professionals as "a cause in search of a disease." We have seen one theory after another of how it might be harmful at ordinary levels but all failed to hold up. Despite continuing alarms one may find on the Internet, there simply isn't any credible risk from cell towers. It is profoundly disturbing to see that we have school board members who lack the basic scientific understanding to comprehend that.

The enlightening part is that this would seem to explain the continuing problem with American students lagging so far behind in science, technology, engineering and math. If those leading the schools have such a lack of understanding for science, how can they inspire our students to appreciate it?

To me the only thing to be debated is whether the amount being offered represents a fair market value. I would hope that the board would be quick to accept a proposal to provide such additional income in lieu of another property tax increase.

Tom Kupferer

Naperville