Students First....Safety Always

City:

Rating: Rate it:

Press Release: "Students First....Safety Always"

"Students First....Safety Always"

Nov. 8, 2006 Contact: Rees W. Candee

For immediate release 480-585-6401

Organization Seeks Reduction in Electromagnetic Field Levels at Cave Creek School

CAVE CREEK -- “Students First....Safety Always” is a community-based organization whose goal is to see the administration of the Cave Creek Unified School District mitigate the high electromagnetic field (EMF) levels generated by high-power transmission lines that traverse the campus of Sonoran Trails Middle School.

“Students First….Safety Always” is comprised of community members who are concerned about the health effects of EMF levels on students and faculty at the school, located at 5555 E. Pinnacle Vista. An independent audit commissioned earlier this year by the district revealed that EMF levels exceeded those associated with an increased risk of childhood leukemia in children under 14.

On Sept. 26, upon the recommendation of Superintendent Tacy Ashby, the district’s governing board voted 4-1 against relocating the transmission lines, citing inconclusive evidence of any possible health risks. In a May 2006 superintendent’s letter to district staff, parents, students, and the community, which is available at www.ccusd93.org/District/SuptLetter/archive/may2006.html , Ashby cited the following:

“As part of the new school construction process, the District and its architects must perform due diligence on properties before they are built in order to ensure all safety measures are addressed. . . Currently, with WAPA’s (Western Area Power Association) assistance, we are working on a suitable solution that will mitigate this situation. Although no state or federal regulations exist regarding EMF levels, the members of the Governing Board and Administration felt strongly about making sure that no potential safety hazards would occur.”

For more information, please contact organization member Rees Candee at(480) 585-6401, or visit http://sfsa.onmycity.com.