Susan Cali, 46, greets parents in the car line and hands out fliers protesting a cell phone tower at John Long Middle School on Monday morning. Times photo/Brendan Fitterer

The Pasco County School Board approved a cell phone tower to rise at the rear of John Long Middle School back in early 2008. Since then, the number of complaints have been minimal.

Then construction began a few days ago. It's expected to be complete by mid November.

This morning, four parents showed up outside the school with signs reading "Stop the Tower" and "Education not Radiation." They handed out fliers decrying the cell tower to other parents who mostly reacted with surprise, as if this were the first time they had heard the plan.

"It was just sprung on everyone," said protester Mark Laidley of Meadow Pointe, whose son is in seventh grade at Long Middle. "I don't like the way the School Board and the school tried to slip this through. ... They'll send you home things like tacos on Tuesday or when they want your money. But when it's something important like this, they'll let it fly right by."

PTSA president Stacy Krous watched the action from her car. She said the school had provided plenty of information, but few came in with questions.

"We've already addressed all the concerns and invited people to come in," Krous said.

She expected to have a lively PTSA meeting later this week, where she expected the anti-cell tower people to make their case.

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