On Tuesday, March 13, 2012, KSTI submitted correspondence to the PCCHU's Board of Directors.  The purpose of this correspondence was twofold:
a)  To address concerns regarding the letter the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board sent to the PCCHU stating their rationale behind installing wi-fi in schools; and
b)  To address concerns regarding a letter sent out by the PCCHU assuring the public that wi-fi is safe.
Unfortunately, even though this correspondence was submitted prior to the 24 hour deadline, it was not accepted to be discussed at the March 14 board meeting.  Also, contrary to PCCHU's own Board of Health Policy (By-Law 3 Calling of and Proceedings at Meetings), this letter of correspondence was rejected to be included at the March 14 Board of Health meeting by the Medical Officer of Health herself, Dr. Rosanna Pellizzari.  The By-Law clearly states that it is the Chairperson of the board whom accepts or rejects a delegation, and then will proceed to inform the Medical Officer of Health to add it to the agenda.  Sadly, in this situation, two of the posted rules of the Peterborough County City Health Unit's By-Laws were not followed correctly by the PCCHU itself.  *UPDATE:  The PCCHU has accepted this correspondence to be included in its April 2012 agenda, but no presentations to specifically speak about wi-fi concerns are being permitted by the public.

On Thursday, February 23, 2012, KSTI members made three presentations to the Board of Trustees for the KPR school board.  
Presentation A)  Comparing levels of electromagnetic radiation inside KPR schools to those 100 metres away from cell towers;
Presentation B)  Legal responsibilities of the board;
Presentation C)  Updates regarding electromagnetic radiation and Wi-Fi since May, 2011
Board's Response:  The board voted to take the above mentioned information back to the Resource Committee for consideration.

KSTI "gave a short presentation outlining (the) group’s concerns that the radiation from wireless Internet can have health effects, particularly on children exposed to it over the course of a school year."  08 February 2012 Peterborough Examiner
Board of Health's Response:
1.  Letter to be sent from Medical Officer of Health Dr. Rosanna Pellizzari to Dr. Ray Copes asking for guidance on this issue;
2.  Letter to be sent to the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board asking for their rationale for instaling wi-fi in public schools.

KSTI and other local parents made four presentations to the Peterborough County-City Health Unit Board of Directors communicating concerns regarding Wi-F and asked the Board of Health to adopt the Precautionary Principle.  They requested that the Board of Health advise the KRP school board to cease with the installation of wireless technology until it is proven safe; to begin an education plan about the precautionary use of wireless devices; and to advise the City an County of Peterborough member municipalities, school boards and hospitals to adopt the precautionary approach regarding wireless technology.  Topics presented include due diligence, medical ethics pertaining to wi-fi, and concerns regarding the testing procedures carried out by the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board regarding the testing of wi-fi levels in schools.  PCCHU response:  Information will be passed on to Dr. Ray Copes, Director, Environmental and Occupational Health, Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion.
For a copy of the minutes, click here. 
For a copy of the news coverage of this event, click here.

On  31 May 2011, documentation was sent to Dr. Rosanna Pellizzari regarding the World Health Organization's classification of Wi-Fi being a class 2b possible carcinogen. asking her to reassess her official position on the use of Wi-Fi in schools.  Response:  No change in position.

KSTI hosted its second Public Information Session on 30 May 2011, at Westdale United Church.  People from as far as Toronto drove to attend this presentation.

KSTI attempted to make presentations to the KPRDSB Board of Trustees on behalf of many concerned parents and individuals.  Diane Lloyd, Chairperson for the board, denied any presentations from being made and stated, '...the Board is exercising its discretion to no longer hear public delegations related to the issue of wi-fi.'  (KPRDSB Board Minutes 28 April 2012 - Section 8:  Delegations)

Wi-Fi Concerned Parents:  We're Not Going Away  (April 2011)

Click on the four pdf downloads below to read four doctors recommending KPRDSB to remove wi-fi from schools.

On Wednesday, 20 April 2011, the following package was sent by fax and registered mail to the Kawartha Pine Ridge School Board Chairperson and Trustees, Honourable Dalton McGuinty, Honourable Leona Dombromsky, Minister of Education, Honourable Deb Matthews, Minister of Education, Tim Hudak, Leader of the Progressive Conservatives, Andrea Horwath, Leader of the NDP and Gord Miller, Environmental Commissioner of Ontario.
See list of downloads below for package contents.

Issues brought forward to Trustees at the March 2011 KPRDSB Board meeting included questioning why Trustees and Board had not responded to a letter which was sent to them from Dr. David Carpenter, advising them of the dangers associated with wi-fi.  It was clearly stated that a response was expected.  No response was ever given.  Also, presentations were given addressing the graphs for exposure to microwave radiation produced by the board.  It was noted that the amount of exposure that will be accumulated over time is not represented on the chart.  Finally, Trustees were informed about many emerging studies being published regarding the concerns around wi-fi exposure, and Trustees were encouraged to read them.  (KPRDSB Board Minutes 31 March 2011 - Section 8.2 - Unannounced Delegations)

KSTI printed a letter from Dr. David Carpenter, addressed the the KPR District School Board, in the Peterborough Examiner newspaper to help to inform the public of the concerns regarding wi-fi in schools.  (See letter listed above).  March, 2011

KSTI sends letter to Mayor Bennett and City Council informing them of the dangers of Wi-Fi in schools and asking them to communnicate the dangers related to Wi-Fi to school trustees. (March 2011)

On 04 March 2011, an informational package was sent to KPRDSB Trustees, and was cc'd to Mayor Bennett and Members of Council, MP Dean Del Mastro, MP Jeff Leal, Dave Nickle NDP, KPR School Council Chairs, KPR School Principals, KPR Regional Council, and the KPR Parent Involvement Committee.
Contents of this package are as follows:
    

KSTI presented new information to the KPRDSB trustees regarding a new ruling about radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation.   The delegate stated that on 07 February 2011, a United States senator introduced a bill that would require retailers to put warning labels on cell phones and on packaging of wireless devices, advising consumers of possible risks associated with radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation.  KSTI asked the board to use the same sense of precaution regarding wi-fi in schools. 

At the 16 December 2010 KPRDSB board meeting, Kawartha Safe Technology, several parents, and a retired doctor spoke to Trustees about their concerns regarding wi-fi in schools.  Topics presented included a doctor's letter that school boards have a mandate to educate children in a safe and healthy learning environment (wi-fi does not provide for this); that the board is moving quickly and spending a large amount of money on this wireless technology (should slow down and take caution); and that parents are experiencing frustration when they don't receive any feedback from the board or trustees.  Finally, Dr. Ken Ranney, a retired medical doctor, pathologist, and clinical biochemist, stated that it would be inappropriate for the board to use wi-fi due to the amount of evidence that speaks to this technology being unsafe.

KSTI hosted their first Public Information Session on 07 December 2010, at the Evinrude Centre.  Many people came out to learn about the concerns regarding Wi-Fi and to get informed.

KSTI spoke to concerns such as parents not being informed that wireless technology was being installed in their children's schools; the public is largely unaware of this IT plan; the board has no justification or financial anaylsis on why wi-fi was chosen over hardwiring; the board did no research into health impacts from wi-fi; and concerns that the Board is refusing parents to speak about this topic at KPRDSB board meetings.
25 November 2010.

Various local citizens present their concerns over KPRDSB installing wi-fi in schools.  Points raised include the fact that children are put at increased risks over adults because their bodies are smaller and still developing; that the precautionary principle be followed; that people need to work and live in a safe environment; and that if the board decides to go wireless, the board may regret its decision.  30 September 2012.

Concerns over wi-fi stemming from events occurring at other schools that had wi-fi were presented to Trustees.  Presentations were received for information, and with thanks.  26 August 2010.

Several parents and Dr. Magda Havas present information to KPRDSB Trustees about concerns regarding wi-fi.  Presentations were received for information, and with thanks.  24 June 2010.