Consolidated School District 230 is currently in negotiations with National Wireless Ventures to build a new cell tower on Andrew High School property.
The negotiations come almost two years after Tinley Park residents opposed construction of similar cell towers at the nearby Christa McAuliffe Elementary School and Helen Keller School — plans that were ultimately withdrawn.
Early plans outline that the new tower would extend an existing 80-foot pole holding the overhead lights for the football field to a 125-foot pole with wireless antennas and equipment.
Though details are far from finalized, preliminary discussions have included proposed additional revenue of $2,000 a month for the district, with opportunities for expansion. If constructed, this would be the second cell tower on Andrew High School property.
Some residents are opposed to the idea.
Bob McClellan, a Tinley Park resident who lives near the school, said construction of the pole would diminish his property value.
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He said he is upset the school district would attempt to move forward with negotiations when residents clearly do not want a cell tower in that area.
Two years ago, an online petition opposing the construction of the cell towers at Christa McAuliffe and Helen Keller received more than 800 supporters before the plans were withdrawn.
“Where they’re proposing to put this would probably be less than 1,000 feet away from Christa McAuliffe,” McClellan said.
McClellan previously served as a Tinley Park plan commissioner from the early the 1990s, resigning earlier this year. He played a role in approving the existing cell tower at Andrew High School.
Other Tinley Park residents who live near the school have begun expressing similar opposition to the new cell tower plans.
John Lavelle, District 230’s assistant superintendent for business services, brought the negotiations before the Board of Education as an informational item late last month.
“We think it’s irresponsible not to explore alternate revenue sources in light of the fact that our state funding has been … cut over the last five years and continues to be threatened,” Lavelle said last week.
He added that the cell tower could also be a benefit to the area.
“There’s a reason why cell companies are wanting to put antennas in this area — it’s because the reception is bad,” he said.
Lavelle said he was aware of the opposition residents had to previous plans, but added that one of the alternatives discussed at that time was to construct the cell tower at the high school.
The district is still far from approving a contract, according to Lavelle. He invited residents to reach out to the district — through the district website, by phone, or by attending Board of Education and building and finance committee meetings.
“We’re not interested in getting in a battle with residents,” he said.
The existing cell tower stands near the softball field and is disguised as a flagpole. Built around 2010, the tower earns the district about $22,000 a year, according to Carla Erdey, director of communications for District 230.
She added that, while initial plans were to hang a flag on the first pole, the flag was removed because of concerns that it would be too noisy for nearby residents.
Erdey said negotiations related to the new tower are still in their preliminary stages, and the district welcomes input from the community.
“Moving forward, it would be a conversation with the community to make sure we’re still on the same page,” she said.
David Lipowski is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.