Ministry backs board's Wi-Fi stance for schools
News
Posted By SHAWN GIILCK
Posted 2 months ago
The Simcoe County District School Board has the backing of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care in their battle over the use of wireless technology in schools like Mountain View Public School in Collingwood.
The ministries "have affirmed the Simcoe County District School Board's use of wireless technologies and confirmed the safety of these technologies for use in classrooms to support and advance 21st century learning," the board announced in a media release earlier this week.
The board released the letter to the media, including the following quotation from Nina Arron, Director, Public Health Protection and Prevention Branch, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.
"Simcoe County District School Board's intention to have all installations conform with Health Canada Safety Code 6 is a reasonable approach for the installation and use of wireless technology in a manner that conforms with current safety standards."
The board clearly was enthusiastic about the support from the province.
"Ensuring safe learning environments is an extremely high priority for us as we deliver public education to our communities," said Simcoe County District School Board chair Brad Saunders. "We are proud of our safe, supportive, and progressive Information Communications Technology Strategic Plan to promote 21st century learning for students in our public elementary and secondary classrooms.
"Wireless technology is a key component of this plan and the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care have affirmed the safety of this technology."
Saunders said, "The implementation of wireless technology capabilities is a key factor in achieving two of the ICT Strategic Plan's themes, equity and accessibility. Wireless technologies have been installed at all SCDSB facilities in order to make these capabilities."
A group of parents from the Mountain View Elementary School community in Collingwood have expressed health concerns over the use of wireless technology in the board's schools.
The parents have launched a website, www.safeschool.ca.
Spokesperson Rodney Palmer said he was "shocked" at the letter from the province. He once again cited a list of complaints that students at Mountain View are allegedly experiencing, including heart problems.
Several students, he said, have been diagnosed with tachycardia, or irregular, racing heartbeats, which he and other parents are attributing to exposure to microwave radiation.
He said the group will continue to pressure the board over the issue.
