Small city elementary schools are utilized as a hub of social engagement and fostering the next generation, and that especially rings true for Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School. Sitting in one of the most economically distressed parts of Binghamton, and being the only elementary school in that area, Roosevelt’s importance to the people of the city’s north side cannot be overstated.

Roosevelt has been in need of major renovations for several years, with the knowledge that asbestos abatement represented a significant portion of project costs. As a result, the district made a conscious decision not to access building aid over the past five years to avoid using a band-aid over a larger problem. Instead, the district took the initiative to evaluate the need, create and build capital reserves, and craft a plan for a rebuild.