Since 1971, Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School has been home for hundreds of young students each school year from all over the northside of Binghamton. But over the last few years, the Northside Elementary School has seen some problems.

"Back in the day they used asbestos to insulate things. And it worked well back in the day. And then they have found out it doesn't work as well anymore," Principal David Chilson of Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School said. "We can't fix our windows that are broken. We can't fix drainage issues in the building,"

The 2024 proposed capital project is a $56 million dollar renovation project on Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School.

The renovations would bring a new, two-story classroom wing, with modernized classrooms and learning commons areas for each grade. Hazardous material remediations and improved outdoor play spaces would also be included.

Chilson says the school has outgrown its current model. 

"We've outgrown our building. All of our spaces are used for full classrooms," Chilson said. "So you see kids working in the hallway, you'll see kids working in spaces that weren't designed to be classroom spaces. But we made the best as closets in situations like that."

When it comes to the $56 million price tag, the district will apply $24 million of its capital revenue funds toward the project. 

The remaining $32 million will be supported through the issuance of bonds and reimbursed over time through the state building aid, as the district receives over 96% in aid, ultimately leading to no additional tax dollars being needed for this project. 

"We need this on the north side of Binghamton," Chilson said. "It's already a food desert. It's a health care desert. It's a child care desert. There's not a lot to offer our families on this side of town."

Parents and Northside residents have voiced their support for the project.

"I have a younger daughter and they stated that they are had they have smaller classrooms, larger classrooms for that age bracket. So I think that'd be a really good route," District Member Tiffany Lowe said. 

Principal Chilson says if the project isn't passed, he doesn't know what the Plan B would be. 

"I don't know what the plan would be if it doesn't pass," Chilson said. "But we definitely have serious work that needs to be done. And a part of the government granting us the the option that they did was so we could do it in a timely manner

If passed, the current timeline sees construction taking place from Spring 2026-2028. To see where your nearest polling site is, you can click here.