Wireless Technology Responsible Use in Classrooms

The Fullerton School District (FSD) department of Innovation & Instructional Support is working to provide safe wireless access to classrooms providing all students internet connectivity throughout the District. As a result of this initiative to provide wireless access to classrooms, concerns have been expressed that by doing so, there is excessive electromagnetic fields (EMFs), including radio frequency (RF), exposure to students and staff.

 

What is the Fullerton School District doing to address these concerns and the conflicting information about unsafe levels of radiation to students and staff?

• We are exploring, researching, and building one of the safest networks for our students and staff members. Although providing a 21st century learning environment is important for Fullerton School District, it will not be at the expense of comprising safety to our students or staff members.

• We have consulted and will continue to do so with network experts, manufacturers, other school districts, and competent safety professionals to ensure that our systems are operating and maintained in a safe manner.

• We have measured the RF exposures simulating an actual classroom environment streaming data as if children were actively learning in a classroom. This testing included the actual software and hardware that students and staff will use for California Common Core Standards lesson plans.

• The testing results confirmed that all EMF measurements were significantly below the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) exposure limits.

• Although our results are within the current guidelines set forth by FCC, we have adopted exposure limits that are 10,000 times lower than any current standard. Additionally, we are supporting efforts to have the FCC revise their current standard to help parents with the conflicting information that has surfaced on the internet and through public comment.

• We will continue to maintain the condition of the network infrastructure ensuring safe operation according to the manufacturer’s recommendation. We will continue to safety test as necessary.

• We continue to offer to students, staff, and parents cyber and internet safety curriculum throughout the year. We encourage parents to instill safe computing practices at home with their children. You can access safe and responsible use of computers for your student at: http://www.commonsensemedia.org/educators/educate-families/tip-sheets

 

For more information regarding educational technology, please contact Jay McPhail, Assistant. Superintendent of Innovation and Instructional Support, at 714-447-7478.