The Board of Trustees of School District No. 5 and Kalispell High School District of Flathead County, Montana, are considering a lease with Gold Creek Cellular of Montana Limited Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless to “… install, maintain and operate communications equipment in and/or upon Flathead High School”. The lease doesn’t say “Cell Phone Tower”, so they would have the right to put any type of equipment up there.

Bad Environment: It is important to note that the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) worked to achieve legislation, in place today, that prohibits cell towers and masts on fire stations, due to negative health effects experienced by firefighters (see this link.) Among the behaviors they noted within weeks of installation of the towers were headaches, disorientation, brain fog, & aggressive behavior. We have included some links below. Given their reports, concerns and concerted legal action, perhaps we should look further into this matter.

Lack of studies: According to the American Cancer Society, " Very few human studies have focused specifically on cellular phone towers and cancer risk." Citation. The few studies that have happened have only occured at a very long distance from the tower. 

Most Recent Lab Results: Directly from the site of the American Cancer Society, " A large study by the US National Toxicology Program (NTP) exposed groups of lab rats and mice to RF energy over their entire bodies for about 9 hours a day, starting before birth and continuing for up to 2 years (which is the equivalent of about 70 years for humans, according to NTP scientists). In a draft report of the final results (released in February 2018), the study found an increased risk of tumors called malignant schwannomas of the heart in male rats exposed to RF radiation"

Payment to School District: The school district board, in return for the communications equipment, would receive a rental payment of $20,400 a year. 

Speak up!​ The school board votes on this proposal soon after the public comment period closes on May 11, 2018. Meetings will be held on April 24th and May 15th, 6pm Kalispell Middle School. Send comments to Beth Kornick. You can also express your concerns by calling Superintendent Mark Flatau at 751-3442, although email may be the best way to reach him: flataum@sd5.k12.mt.us

For more information, please visit http://client.prod.iaff.org/#contentid=5090

Thank you to Superintendent Mark Flatau and the School Board for giving us a voice and ensuring the safety and well being of our community!!