Sprint has shut down the power to its wireless cell phone tower at the Weston Elementary School campus on Stanley Drive as of 5 p.m. Wednesday.

 “We take the ongoing parental concerns seriously and want our families to feel comfortable in their school,” Ripon Unified board member Kit Oase said. “We have been working with Sprint to address the concerns of the community and have developed solutions to relocate the cell site as quickly as possible.”

Oase further noted that as part of the relocation process, Sprint is moving forward with leasing, permitting and deploying a new site. 

A number of parents believe the cell tower in the middle of the campus may be responsible for triggering cancer in four children and three teachers due to electromagnetic waves.

 Experts hired by the Ripon Unified School District concluded the tower’s electromagnetic waves were well within federal guidelines. An expert retained by several parents disputes that conclusion.

Due to a long-term contract with Sprint, the school district was not in a position to order the tower’s removal but they did send a letter to Sprint asking then to consider doing so. Sprint on Monday agreed to the request.

The tower is within 100 feet from two classrooms and the office of the school. 

Parents have held several meetings in their effort to engender public support for removing the tower – one of two in the school district.

To contact Glenn Kahl, email gkahl@mantecabulletin.com.