More than a decade ago, Paris Cooperative High School applied for funding for a new building.

Now it is finally getting the funding to go through with the project.

Thursday, Governor Pat Quinn awarded 31 school districts statewide millions of dollars for building repairs, updates and expansions.

Paris was one of those schools.

It will receive nearly $25 million to build a 40-classroom high school to serve more than a 1,000 students in grades 9 through 12.

The new school will also include a community fine art center, which means a small auditorium will no longer be a restriction for the drama department.

The current building is more than 100 years old.

Construction is expected to begin in a year.