Battle High School could soon get upgrades to communication tower; better cell service

Battle High School could soon see improvements to the lack of cellphone reception inside the high school.

Currently, Battle High School has a radio communication tower up for emergency responders and emergency management, but the tower isn’t providing strong cellphone service inside the building.

The current tower enables crews to talk to one another and joint communications during emergency situations in the high school area.

With a lack of cellphone service, teachers, staff, and students aren’t able to use their cellphones in emergency situations.

Linda Quinley, chief financial and operations officer, told ABC 17 News the concerns from staff and teachers started to come forward after the tower was completed last year, therefore, this upcoming school year the finance committee will recommend to the school board the need for the additions to the tower.

“We have heard of teachers saying they will often times run to the window, or run to a ‘service spot’ to call out, which is a problem,” Quinley said.

It’s been four years since the school opened. Quinley said the district was under the impression that the radio tower would help with cell service but it didn’t.

Boone County commissioners signed an agreement with Columbia Public Schools to help pay for the cost of the radio tower.

The additions to the tower for better cell reception could cost up to $400,000.