The future of one of Binghamton’s seven elementary schools hangs in the balance, and money tied up in the current state budget negotiations could be the only way to save it.

Theodore Roosevelt Elementary is in major need of repair, and was at one time identified as a school that could be shut down due to aging infrastructure.

A major rebuild is now in the plans, saving a school in one of the poorest and most underserved areas of the city.

The name might read Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School, but the building is much more. Located in the heart of Binghamton’s poorest neighborhood, it’s a place children and their community can count on, but its future is now in jeopardy.

"It's really a a critical spoke in the hub of this Northside to Binghamton. And if it doesn't remain open at all, that will be the only side of town without a building," said Brian Whalen, board president of the Binghamton City School District.

As one of Binghamton’s seven elementary schools, it was at one point one of four targeted for a closure. Built in the early 1970s, the aging building is only getting worse, with windows that don’t open and classrooms that don’t fit today’s standards.

To make matters worse, the building contains a significant amount of asbestos. While not exposed, or in any danger to students, it makes any future construction a challenge.

"It's very expensive to abate asbestos. So when you do a building project, a lot of your cost goes to doing abatement. It doesn't really benefit the children in terms of the building itself, other than from a health and safety perspective," said Whalen.

Following support from the community to keep Roosevelt open, Binghamton is now getting creative.

Senator Lea Webb and Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo introduced legislation to allow the district to access two-times their multi-year cost allowance within the state’s budget aid. This would allow them to access the maximum cost allowance, plus one additional cycle, resulting in $28,000,000 to rebuild and renovate Roosevelt Elementary over the next four years.

Along with the upgrades, it would add an additional classroom wing to the school.

“We're concerned whether this will remain in the budget. We're hopeful that it will. It makes all the sense in the world to do what we're doing,” said Whalen.

It’ll now be up to the state to make that decision. If the funding doesn’t go through, the building could be closed, or face a much longer and more expensive construction project.

Members of the Binghamton community are now being encouraged to write letters to the state, encouraging Governor Kathy Hochul to include the funding to keep the building open.