Wireless Technology Use in Schools - Algoma District School Board

Algoma District School Boardreaching to the futureDirector’s Report 2011 12 20Attachement B.2 #2SAFETY OF WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY IN SCHOOLSBACKGROUND INFORMATION• We believe in providing our students and staff with all the tools they require to develop the skillsnecessary in our global society.• Wireless provides the flexibility to accommodate technologies students and staff bring from home (i.e.laptops, netbooks, iPads).• Wireless supports portable devices, increasing the accessibility to technology and convenience of usewithin the school setting.• The Algoma DSB is making an investment in this technology to support students in their learning• Student safety is, and always will be, our first priority as a school board.Wireless internet technology was developed in the mid 1980’s and became widely used within publicbuildings, schools, universities and even many homes since the mid-2000’s.We rely on the direction of public health authorities in managing issues of broader community health.Algoma Public Health’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Allan Northan, has stated that there is no apparenthealth reason to avoid the use of Wi-Fi in schools or other institutional settings.Recently, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Arlene King, Chief Medical Officer of Health andthe Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion (OAHPP), have stated that wireless technologydoes not pose a public health risk.The World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Canada have examined this issue and concluded thatwireless networking of public institutions is safe.Health Canada has established standards for protecting human health from radiofrequency electromagneticenergy with its Safety Code 6 (2009). These safety guidelines have set limits for safe human exposure toelectromagnetic energy from radiofrequency (RF) devices, including cell phones and base stations (used inwireless networking).According to Health Canada, “there is at present no scientific basis for the premise of health risksfrom radiofrequency electromagnetic energy at levels below the limits within this safety code.”• Wireless networks within board schools will conform, in all aspects, to Health Canada regulations.