Senator Peralta Unveils Capital Project to Replace P.S. 69’s Public Address System

Today, State Senator Jose Peralta announced state funding for a much-needed capital improvement for P.S. 69, a project that will replace the public address system at the school. Martha Vazquez, the school’s principal, and the United Federation of Teachers Chapter Chairperson, Deborah Cregan, joined Senator Peralta during this morning’s announcement in Jackson Heights.   

“Education is a key pillar of our society, and we must ensure we provide the necessary resources for our students. I am extremely glad I was able to secure state funding for this capital improvement for P.S. 69, which will, finally, be able to replace its main public address system. The current system was installed 25 years ago, and it has been malfunctioning for the past decade,” said Senator Peralta. “This modern communication system will benefit the entire school community, facilitating more engagement from students, teachers, administrators and parents. Having a proper public address system is especially essential in case there is an emergency, when everyone needs to be aware of what may be occurring and how to proceed.”         

“We want to thank Senator Peralta for his support of our school and school community. This grant will allow us to replace our very old and malfunctioning public address system. We are excited that this grant will allow us to replace our main PA system with a new unit, including new cards and amplifiers,” said Martha Vazquez, P.S. 69 Principal.

The project includes the replacement of the sound system racks at the cafeteria, gymnasium and auditorium. It also replaces the bell system and the master clock. “This is extremely important to our communications system in the school not only to share, recognize, and celebrate our students, but to communicate with the entire school in situations such as emergencies,” added Vazquez. “A functioning public address system can mean all the difference when it comes to safety. A new system will make us a safer school!”

Deborah Cregan, Chapter Chairperson at P.S. 69 said, “We want to thank Senator Peralta for his generous allocation of funds for a new public address system here at PS 69Q. A good public address system is an essential element to engaging all our students. It will allow us to enhance our learning environment, recognize student and school achievements and open communication channels to everyone in the building. An excellent sound system will guarantee that important messages and safety concerns are effectively communicated to the entire school community in a timely manner. Thank you Senator Peralta for ensuring that we will have a state of the art communication system here at PS 69Q.”

The cost to replace the main PA system is approximately $100,000.