CAMDEN — During a Preble Shawnee Board of Education meeting in late 2022, Superintendent Todd Bowling notified the board of the possibility of contracting with Arcadia Towers. According to Bowling, Arcadia initiated conversation with the district regarding the building of a cell tower on school property, which could then be used to further contract out to service providers, creating a steady financial stream for Preble Shawnee.

Bowling explained for each “tenant” provider who rents a space on the tower, the school would be paid $2,250 a month, meaning, should the tower house more than two tenants, the school district would profit several thousand dollars a month at no cost.

Bowling also added, Arcadia would be solely responsible for all upkeep and maintenance to the tower. The school would not require new or expanded insurance to cover the tower, nor would it pose any added liability to the district. Bowling noted that the tower would be built 200 or 300 yards behind the football field, and would therefore be far enough away in case of any structural mishaps.

“It’s flat-out a way to raise money to help out with the revenue we’re not getting,” stated Bowling.

However, some residents in the area have issued concerns that the tower could cause negative effects on both the health and mentality of students and locals alike.

In response to these concerns, the board conducted further research on the topic, after which they opened platform to the community for conversation during several board of education meetings, as well as the districts first superintendent and treasurer meeting, held Feb. 8, at the elementary school in Camden.

Adam Eickelberger, a social studies instructor at the high school, contacted the members of the board in opposition to the construction of the tower, as well as speaking out against the tower during the Jan. 12 meeting at the beginning of the year. Eickelberger made claims that the radio waves transmitted by cell towers have proven dangerous throughout history, and would be no less hazardous for residents in the surrounding area.

According to Bowling, other residents have expressed interest in favor of the tower’s construction, stating that about 60 percent of them believe it would be beneficial, providing roughly $273,000 in 30 years.

“But the 40 percent who are against it are hardcore against it,” Bowling noted.

Board president Jeff Wood remarked he has also received abundant public interest in favor of the tower, while hearing very little against. “We have a diverse amount of opinions about it. We might not really know what our constituency thinks until we do a survey.”

Board member Julie Singleton, who has expressed concern over the tower in past meetings added, “I will say, we’ve all gotten the emails. So, I know you’ve all heard negative about it. Because we’ve all gotten those emails.”

Eickelberger again voiced his concerns during the Wednesday, Feb. 8 community meeting with Bowling and school treasurer, Jacque Bolton.

“I’ll do anything to keep poison off of our kids. I can’t stop the genetically modified organisms that get bombarded on them all the time, like the glyphosate and the atrazine and everything that gets sprayed all over these farm fields. I can’t control every single man who wants to profit off of Monsanto. But if we allow this to happen, when it all comes out in 2025, 2028, whenever the Rockefeller-funded information — because that’s really what it ultimately is — when the truth really comes out the blood is going to be on our hands if we vote yes, said we wanted to do this,” remarked Eickelberger.

“To me, for $88,000 dollars, whatever it is — I don’t care if it is a million dollars. It’s not worth doing that.”

Eickelberger proceeded to express his negative opinions of the use of wi-fi in public schools, “If I had my way, we would take all the wi-fi out of all the schools, too. There are countries in Europe that have figured out it is constantly bombarding our children with constant radiation.”

According to Eickelberger, he does not allow students in his class to use their laptops, tablets or cell phones or any other technological devices, nor are they permitted to charge said devices more than twice a year in his classroom due to the alleged EMF (Electromagnetic Field) spikes it causes.

“This isn’t weirdo Mr. Eickelberger stuff, you can find it on the history channel. If it’s on the history channel, that’s pretty mainstream. It’s out there, I just do more research than I should about stuff because at the end of the day, I don’t trust anybody. My mommy taught me, ‘don’t trust anybody, even me,’ and she’s an angel.”

The board also heard from resident Jenny Coleman during the Thursday, Feb. 9, public board meeting, who expressed her concerns about the alleged health impacts caused by radiation. Coleman described a study conducted on the effects of cell radiation on lab rats, and expressed she does not condone students “becoming the lab rats” for the Arcadia Towers agreement.

Bowling has noted that even should the board vote against the contract with Arcadia, the company is not obligated to build on school property alone, and can just as easily build on residential properties across the street, or in the Village of Camden. In which case, the health impacts remain the same, while funding opportunities are lost for the district.

The board has made no official decision, but has endorsed a survey be taken of residents in the district to better educate themselves to the preferences of their constituents.

Neither Bowling or the board has made an official comment on the removal of wi-fi from school district premises.

Reach Nathan Hoskins at 937-683-4057.