ECC construction nears end after delays

While preschool teachers were excited to move into their new classrooms before the new year, construction changes have dragged this into the the blustery cold of early 2026.

After a bevy of delays, the new Creston Community School District Early Childhood Center is set to be complete in late February or early March.

“We’re getting close. The punch list is about 64 pages long, and so that’s everything you can think of, from outlets to doors in wrong places, everything’s on there,” CCSD Superintendent Deron Stender said.

However, due to various issues the district has had with the contractor over the course of the project, Stender said the final payment will be held until all work is complete.

“This action holds the contractor responsible for the work to be completed, as we hold onto nearly half a million dollars that will be paid upon completion to our satisfaction,” Stender said. “We are very disappointed in their ability to meet timelines, the quality of craftsmanship and attention to detail. We appreciate everyone’s patience, flexibility and continued support as we bring this important project to completion.”

The ECC was originally scheduled to be complete by the end of October 2025. Kindergarten classes entered the new building after a slight delay in September, but preschool classes have been scattered around the elementary/middle school in temporary classrooms awaiting the completion of construction.

This isn’t the first time the district has worked with construction company DDVI. The company originally worked with the district in 2003 with the construction of the elementary/middle school building.

Association with the company ended on negative terms then, the company and district filing arbitration claims against each other for delays and damages during the project.

With the project near its close, money left in the contingency fund will be about $550,000. Stender said this money will then go toward the demolition of the old ECC building, which has received no bids. However, other areas on the property have been more successful.

“We have an RPF [request for proposal] meeting in February for basically the entire green space, so go around the parking lot out here on the north side, follow along to the playground, so basically the whole thing, track, football field,” Stender said. “There’s several that are interested in the bus barn.”

The city will likely be taking ownership of the playground.

Demolition of the building will start this summer or fall following surveys of the building and property. Due to this surveying, the district plans to demo the building before selling the bus barn.

“We will survey the bus barn so when we decide to sell it it will already be bundled off and ready to sell. Everything is working out, combining pretty well,” Stender said. “City is taking ownership of the playground, private ownership of the track complex, we hold on to the bus barn for another year. We do have to have a hearing at some point after the specs.”

DLR Group, the same organization in charge of the engineering and planning of the new ECC, will take charge of the demolition. DLR will also work with the district on future projects, including the high school auditorium this fall. Other future projects include upgrades to district driveways and parking lots and new tennis courts.

In other school board news...

The superintendent said administration was working hard to minimize the impact of a budget gap to the school district. Originally looking at an almost $900,000 gap, the district has managed to bring it closer to $400,000. Even with these changes, Stender reassured staff and parents that regular operations would not be impacted.

“This does not impact anybody’s job in the school district. If somebody leaves, we might not refill that position; we may reorganize and do something different, but in terms of overall operations, minimal to no impact to staff members or students through this budget process that we have here,” Stender said. “To kind of help to minimize the panic that people may have, we can weather this fiscal year through some soft payments.”

The board approved a setting a public hearing regarding the proposed 2026-27 school calendar for Monday, Feb. 16 at 5:30 p.m. in the AEA board room.

The board approved the following list of January 2026 contracts and resignations:

Contracts: Treyton Chesnut, high school assistant girls wrestling coach; Jaxy Knight, paraprofessional; Andrea Ramirez, paraprofessional; Mason Hague, paraprofessional; Hallie Robertson, paraprofessional; Jennifer Hallett, paraprofessional; Doug Thatcher, custodian.

Resignations: Treyton Chesnut, middle school head girls wrestling coach; Gracie Hagle, assistant high school softball coach; Trisha Carson, ninth grade head volleyball coach; Caleb Maxwell, paraprofessional.