DDVI awarded ECC addition contract

A construction contract with DDVI, Inc. for the new Early Childhood Center addition was approved Monday by the Creston School Board. DDVI submitted the lowest of nine bids at $12,095,913.

This won’t be the first time the school district has worked with DDVI. The construction 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, with the company and district filing arbitration claims against each other for delays and damages during the project. The project’s delay was a result of cracking to the school’s concrete floor, an error state arbitrator David J. Blair attributed to a design flaw by Rambo Associates of Omaha, Neb., which oversaw the construction of the school.

Blair awarded DDVI $272,415 above the contracted amount. DDVI was seeking $654,080 from the school district above the contracted amount. In Blair’s statement on the case, he was clear in saying neither DDVI nor the Creston School District were at fault for the construction delay.

While this experience left a bad taste in the district’s mouth, school board members said they feel better about the company more than 20 years later, partially due to a change in ownership. DLR architect Eric Beron said someone from DLR will be onsite every two weeks to keep track of progress.

“Gary [Briley] understands that they’ve improved. He’s talked to other districts,” CCSD Superindentend Deron Stender said, regarding the district’s director of maintenance. “They’re a better company today than last time we worked with them.”

Construction on the EMS addition is expected to begin July 8, with official move in happening August 2025 and final completion at the end of October 2025. The school board approved up to $19 million in funding for the project last September. The funds used will go against the district’s future school infrastructure sales, service and use tax revenue bonds.

The new ECC space will be kid friendly, kid inspired and kid focused, according to Beron. There will be separate areas for preschool and kindergarten, as well as a STEM and media room, a multi-purpose area and a gross motor space.