To one local elementary school, Senator Carl Kruger is known as “Mr. Cool” for his role in fixing an electrical problem that left kids and teachers sweltering.
Kids and staff at PS 312, 7103 Avenue T in Bergen Beach, were enduring graduation practice, awards ceremonies and assemblies in a sauna-like auditorium since a faulty transformer caused the air-conditioning system to go kaput at the height of the recent heat wave.
Alerted to the problem by the school’s Parents’ Association, Sen. Kruger immediately contacted Con Edison. The utility dispatched a repair crew that spent days working on the problem non-stop. The repair crew removed the broken transformer and replaced it with a new one.
The day before P.S. 312’s graduation, the problem was fixed, leaving the principal and school community relieved, as well as considerably cooler.
Linda Beal-Benigno, PS 312’s principal, wrote to Sen. Kruger thanking him for his quick assistance.
“Your immediate involvement with Con Edison expedited the repairs,” Benigno said. “We are most impressed at how quickly the school’s transformer was removed and replaced with a new one.”
“PS 312 is fortunate to have its political leaders support the needs of our students and help maintain our beautiful building,” the principal added.
The president of PS 312’s Parents’ Association, Christine Kroening, also praised Sen. Kruger’s intervention.
“Sen. Kruger’s responsiveness to the people of PS 312, and his total commitment to getting the air-conditioning repaired as quickly as possible, make him a hero at our school,” Kroening said.
