Creston Schools donates land to hospital for childcare facility

May 11—In an effort to address the need for childcare, the Creston Community School Board unanimously approved to donate property to Greater Regional Health to build a childcare center during a special meeting May 3.

The property is located on North Lincoln Street across from Southern Prairie Family Fitness Center. The in-kind gift to is pending a legal review and will not be official until a public hearing is held. The board will set June 21 for the public hearing during its regular meeting May 17.

"I'm excited," said Deron Stender, Creston Community School Disrict superintendent. "I think it's a great opportunity for our community, for businesses in our community, and for families in our community to have basically a one stop shop."

Stender said the childcare center will bring jobs and operate at no cost to the district, other than some transportation to and from school and a potential partnership for auxiliary services such as food service or library.

"I look at it as a great resource for our students and families to feed right in to our school programs and to be supportive in a collaborative effort," Stender said. "I think it's a win-win for our community. What a great resource to have available and for community organizations parter on."

During the closed session, Stender said the board discussed what it would like to see the property become. After considering a number of interested parties, the board chose what it felt would best serve the community and district.

Additional details on GRH's plan will be shared after legal approval.