ROME, N.Y. -- The New York School for the Deaf in Rome is getting more than a million dollars in state aid for building improvements.

The School for The Deaf was founded in 1874, teaching about 60 students from all over the state.

The oldest portion of the facility was built in the 1930s and is in serious disrepair. It's actually been closed to students since the early 1990s and is currently used for storage.

The $1.25 million in funding will be used to repair the roof, windows, electrical, heating and ventilation systems, as well as various other structural improvements.

Leaders believe the facility has a lot of potential.

"[It's] an opportunity for our community to come in and use the facility for things like GED prep, maybe do some work with computers and learning, continued learning for our adult community," said NYS School for the Deaf Superintendent David Hubman.