Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) and Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D., N.Y.) announced Thursday that the Army has awarded a $48 million contract in federal funds for one elementary school in West Point, New York.
The money is meant to fully renovate and expand West Point Elementary School, which has remained in violation of federal regulations for years.
"For too long the condition of the base's Elementary School has deteriorated due to a lack of federal investment," Schumer said in a statement. "These outdated facilities consistently fail to meet federal education regulations, and this does our children a great disservice."
"This new contract will allow for the school to be completely rebuilt bringing good paying construction jobs and giving the base and the school a facility it needs and deserves," the senator continued.
Dobco Incorporated of New Jersey is the general contractor for the project, which is scheduled to be completed by February 2020.
The school, originally built in 1963, educates about 500 kids from pre-kindergarten to fourth grade, including children of Army personnel stationed at West Point and others who live and work at the military installation, according to the Times Herald-Record.
Two years ago, Schumer secured $55 million to rebuild the school as part of a Senate appropriation bill, which also included another $70 million of federal funds to replace West Point's sewage treatment plant.
West Point Elementary has been in violation of federal regulations for years for its poor condition and is run by the Department of Defense Education Activity, which manages schools for the children of U.S. service members around the world.
"The current West Point Elementary school does not meet Department of Defense Education Agency regulations, specifically the Education Facilities Specifications as well as current AT/FP, ADA, and NFPA requirements," according to a May 2015 press release from Schumer's office. "It also is in violation of numerous federal energy and sustainability mandates."