N.K. teacher believes she was fired for expressing WiFi health concerns

February 24, 2016 5:52 pm

By: Rebecca Turco

Email: rturco@abc6.com

NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. – A North Kingstown teacher is taking on the school district as she deals with her impending pink slip.

Shelley McDonald believes the school committee chose to fire her come April for being outspoken about her health concerns with WiFi in the classroom, pushing for wired internet connections instead. She says she suffers from a syndrome where WiFi radiation makes her sick and could be harmful to students too.

"Exposure from EMF emitted from those devices is harmful and makes me sick,” she explained at last week’s school committee meeting. "I believe that we’re here tonight because I’m loud. I’m a persistent advocate for the health and wellbeing of my students, my colleagues and myself."

Superintendent Dr. Philip Auger says she was fired because she refused to administer the PARCC test in December, calling it “an issue of insubordination.” McDonald had been concerned about privacy issues with giving out her social security number.

"We cannot pick those pieces of our job description that we’re going to do and those we decide we’re not going to do,” explained Auger.

As far as WiFi is concerned, Auger says every school in Rhode Island uses it per state guidelines. He says he wouldn’t fire McDonald just for sharing her opinions.

The Health Department tells ABC6 News there is no scientific evidence to support McDonald’s claims. Auger says if McDonald administers the PARCC test in April, she won’t be fired.