It’s been over a year and a half since the MacArthur Elementary School in Binghamton was flooded beyond repair, and now the building’s future will be decided by local residents. Binghamton City School District leaders presented blueprints and plans for a new MacArthur elementary to the community on Wednesday night at Ross Memorial Presbyterian Church.
The plans for the school will be put to a community vote on April 15th. In the new plans, the 120,000 -square-foot building will use solar panels on the roof and radiant heat in an effort to be more environmentally friendly. The new building would also be built five feet above the 500-year flood plain. With help from FEMA, the cost for the new building locally would be under $3 million. If approved, the increase to the community’s tax bills would be about six dollars per year. The district will need 60 percent of the vote in order to go forth with the rebuilding. The Blueprints Presented next public hearing is set for April 8th at 6 PM at 164 Hawley Street.
