Ground-breaking at Crestwood K-8/high school

A ground-breaking ceremony was held on June 20 at the K-8 building for the new addition that will connect the K-8 with the high school.

Supt. Ted Ihns told the crowd gathered for the ceremony, “In 2019, we tried to do a bond, but it didn’t go. The board, Mr. Trende and myself wanted to continue giving our students a high-quality facility.” The group came up with different ideas, and then Trende found Emergent Architecture, who came up with a plan that did not require raising taxes.

“Safety was our priority. Besides safety, the students moved between the two building in all kinds of weather,” Ihns noted.

He added, many locals think the new addition is athletic-focused, when it is more teaching-focused. The new space will allow other spaces being used for athletics to be turned into classrooms. One example is the alternative learning center that was torn down and relocated into the old fitness center.

School Board President Alison Holten agreed with Ihns. “Our main focus was for safety and to clear up space to make more room for classes.”

Those participating in the ground-breaking were Ihns, Holten, school board member Tom Williams, student representative Lydia William, Building and Grounds Director Trende and board members Shirley Sovereign and Toni Johnson.