Construction On Binghamton School To Start

Heavy equipment is being staged at the site of the new MacArthur Elementary School on Binghamton's South Side.

City school district officials say construction work is expected to begin soon, probably within the next few days.

The old flood-damaged school building was torn down last year.

School superintendent Marion Martinez has said the goal is to be able to have classes in the new building in September of next year.

Martinez has indicated while the school could be ready for occupancy in the fall of 2015, finishing touches may be completed after the school year is underway.

Construction on the project was expected to start months ago but final approval of the plans for the new school by the State Education Department took longer than anticipated.

The Board of Education this month awarded contracts for site work and structural work for the school which will rise on the Vestal Avenue land occupied by the previous building.