Update: Miscellaneous Updates

5G Tower, Jasmine's Voice, City Manager Vacancy

Greetings, reader. I’ve had many topics I hoped to update you on in the past few months, but haven’t had the time to review my drafts. No AI summaries this evening, just me finishing my thoughts on a variety of topics.

Educate Tecumseh - Paid Subscription

I stated in my last article that I would be charging a subscription fee for board meeting summaries to offset the cost of AI transcription. I did not know Substack requires a $5 minimum for subscriptions (my plan was $2). I’ve decided to keep the blog free, and will be providing full refunds to all paid subscribers. I’ll reach out to you individually. If you wish to donate, you’re welcome to do so, but I can’t charge $5 in good conscience when the Tecumseh Herald charges $6 for an entire newspaper written by experienced journalists. I’m just a dad with a blog.

I want to share my thoughts on AI-written articles as well. Articles that contain my opinion, such as this article or the “final thoughts” portion of my meeting notes, are written entirely by me. I use AI to synthesize lengthy board discussions because it does so in an unbiased manner. I am generally against writers using AI, so I want my readers to know that I will always specify when something is summarized by AI. Everything else is written the old fashioned way: clacking away at my MacBook with a Starbucks cold brew and Tori Amos in my AirPods.

5G Tower at THS

I didn’t weigh in on this at first because I am not a 5G expert. I do, however, work on a highly advanced aircraft that uses similar technology. I don’t have a firm stance on this particular issue, but I lean in favor of its placement. Here’s why.

5G towers are built pretty high up. At this altitude, the antennas are typically positioned to project signals above ground level, reducing exposure directly below. By the time the signal reaches the ground, its power density is significantly lower due to the distance and directional focus, ensuring that radiation levels near the tower, such as at a nearby high school, remain well within safe limits.

5G emits non-ionizing radiation, meaning it’s incapable of harming cell structure. For reference, the scanners at airports and the x-rays at your dentist office use ionizing radiation, which can harm cell structure. It is prudent to limit our exposure to these sources, but also important to note that 5G radiation isn’t in the same category.

Finally, 5G radio (RF) waves have a much higher frequency than the waves on your radio dial or older cell phones. The tighter the wavelength (or frequency), the easier it is to block. The walls of a high school are more than sufficient to block 5G waves. If you’re asking yourself how you get cell signal within the high school, I would first say that chances are, you don’t. If you do, it’s because the tower is using lower frequency waves (the same waves that always existed), or the school’s wifi is supplementing the signal (potentially as a repeater).

So while I’m always skeptical, especially of conflicting results, I do feel the tower is safe. The alternative is likely that the tower will be placed nearby and we will miss out on the funds generated from the tower, with 5G still nearby.

Jasmine’s Voice

Jasmine’s Voice is a local program for autistic, especially non-verbal, kids to be obtain a free iPad with “LAMP” (speech software) pre-loaded. Last year, I talked to a grandmother whose daughter refused to use Jasmine’s voice due to the small print in their contract. When my own son came to live with us in 2023, I looked into Jasmine’s voice myself and came to the same conclusion. I promised to do a follow-up, and I finally did.

I start by acknowledging that this program is ran by a woman who’s simply trying to do a good deed. I mean her no ill-will for her efforts, but take issue with a few aspects. Per my conversation with the founder, Melissa Kipp, these are the requirements to receive a “free” iPad, according to our conversation:

• Must attend training course

• Jasmine must meet the recipient

• Must have letter of recommendation from family

• Must have professional, medical diagnosis to support need

When I asked Melissa how she’s able to handle private medical records as the owner of a non-profit, she admitted that she didn’t realize that would be an issue, and thanked me (sarcastically) for giving her “another reason to worry”. I consulted a special needs advocate, who pointed out that parents can share an IEP with whoever they like. The concern would only be if private medical info was shared and not stored or disposed of properly.

I asked who made up the board of her non-profit, to which she answered her husband, two daughters, Jasmine, a speech pathologist, and a fellow mom with children on the spectrum. Having a board made up almost entirely of family members can raise ethical questions, but I do not believe it is inherently unethical in such a small organization with such a specific purpose.

My main issue in 2023 when I applied was the terms of service. It seemed to be a blank check for Melissa’s organization to use my son’s likeness for any and all social media purposes, and a heavy demand on my family to attend each and every one of their fundraising events. An iPad cost $400, and the LAMP software cost $300. The cost in labor for my wife and I to attend every fundraising event for Jasmine’s Voice far exceeded the cost of the iPad with software, so we paid out of pocket.

The next page on this application prompts the user to upload “latest medical information” regarding the applicant’s medical need for the device, including an I.E.P.

Melissa seemed disturbed by my hesitance to go along with the contract she provided, and with my questions. She wished my readers to note:

• Her husband (board member) is a police officer

• She has given out over 700 ipads

• Jasmine’s Voice is a 501c

I explained to Melissa that I have a blog where I report on matters of education in the district, and that I would be presenting the information from our conversation in my blog. She thanked me for helping spread the word for her organization, and directed folks to contact her directly if they had any questions (Jasmine's Voice).

For my part, I think Melissa is doing a wonderful service to the community. The LAMP software is definitely worth the cost, and it is integrated into programs we use here at TPS (there’s even a LAMP board at the TMS playground that we use). I followed-up on my concerns because I think her website, and contract, could use an update. She admitted as much herself. With a few small changes to the contract, I would recommend anyone with a need to use her program.

Tecumseh City Manager

Those of you that follow the Herald on X, or are part of the Tecumseh Ordinance Discussion page on Facebook, may have noticed that I jokingly announced my candidacy for Tecumseh city manager after Dan Swallow’s announced departure.

As fun as it was to make this post, and accept Councilmember Austin See’s challenge to mud wrestle, it was a joke. My sources tell me that Tecumseh Police Chief Brett Coker is the prime candidate for appointment to be our next city manager. I have a story that I’d like to share concerning Chief Coker’s leadership that pertains to education.

If you’ve followed this blog, you know that I have a teenaged, autistic, non-verbal son who we brought to live with us abruptly in early 2023 after his mother abandoned him at a hospital. What he went through was horrendous. On two occasions, we had to call Tecumseh PD for help when he went into fits of rage. It was all so sudden, we didn’t know what to do. Both times TPD responded, they were heroes. They walked into a tense situation and controlled it with a professionalism that blew me away. Later, autism specialists would share their amazement that a local PD knew what to do with someone on the spectrum in that type of situation.

Later that year, I was working on an organizational psychology project in my graduate program at Auburn. I decided to interview Chief Coker, who I’d never met, about his responsibilities as police chief, and the struggles he faced. One decision he shared with me was approving budget for special needs training. Many small municipalities don’t even have police departments, let alone budget for specialized training. Still, Chief Coker insisted. This was important to him.

I shared my story with Chief Coker, now realizing that it was his decision, not likely an easy one, to fund the training the officers received when they responded to my house on both occasions. I’m as critical of law enforcement as I am of government in general, but I have been continually impressed with the culture at TPD (for many other reasons as well). Good culture comes from the top. If my sources are correct and Chief Coker is slated to be our next city manager, he has my full endorsement.

During the second incident with my son, the officers arrived in a squad car. As one officer walked in the front door, he remembered that Greg (my son) loves vehicles with sirens, so he invited Greg to check out his ride. Greg then said, “hospital truck?”, to which the officer responded, “you bet, one is on the way!” My son, now having gone from full rage mode to his usual calm, childlike curiosity, then said, “helicopter?” The officer replied, “Oooh, sorry Greg, Chief won’t let us buy one of those”.

Chief Coker, if you’re reading this, my son would love to speak with you about acquiring a municipal helicopter.