Parents urge limits on phones, oppose leasing school property for cell towers; petition circulates
Summary
Two public commenters asked the board to restrict student screen time, oppose leasing school grounds for cell towers, and consider steps to lower wireless exposure; one parent said a petition advocating five policy changes on student screen use has nearly 500 District 65 parent signatures.
During public comment at the Aug. 18 District 65 board meeting, two speakers raised technology-related concerns affecting students.
Myrna Glasser, who said she has 25 years of experience working on biological systems, told the board she supports limits on student cell-phone use during the school day and "strongly discourage[d]" leasing school property for cell towers or antennas. Glasser said she has worked with scientists and federal agency committee members and stated she would submit references and a page of citations to the board, including guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics on cell phone safety.
Another parent, who identified themselves as Zokie Tasich and spoke on behalf of Queen Sense Evanston, said the group circulated a petition advocating five changes to district policies governing student screen use and devices. Tasich told the board the petition was circulated only days earlier and had been signed by nearly 500 District 65 parents. The speaker asserted that research shows prolonged device and internet use harms children mentally, emotionally, socially and physically and urged the board to consider the group’s proposed policy changes.
Both speakers urged the board to review low-cost steps to reduce student daily exposure to wireless signals; Glasser also warned that a small percentage of students may be especially sensitive to wireless signals. The board did not take immediate action on the requests during the meeting, and both commenters said they would provide additional materials to district staff for review.
