In 1963 Shelby Public Schools opened a brand-new school on Hillcrest Avenue in New Era for students in grades K-8 in the greater New Era area. It was one of three elementary feeder schools for Shelby High School. The other feeder schools were in Benona and Ferry. As the student body grew, New Era Elementary School transferred more students each year to Shelby until it housed only grades 4 and 5.
The Shelby campus had added a middle school building and an elementary building with the goal of consolidating all the feeder school students on a single campus in Shelby. The school closures followed that plan, starting with the Ferry school, then the Benona school, and finally vacating New Era Elementary School in the middle of the 2023-2024 school year.
Since the Shelby campus provided already furnished classroom space, the New Era Elementary School building was a 20,000-square-foot facility, fully equipped for educational purposes, but without any students. Having served local students for 60 years, it captured memories of countless families, and residents were sad to see it vacant.
Community members did not want the building to face the same fate as other vacated schools, so they explored various ways it could continue to serve the community. An assisted-living facility for seniors was one suggestion. The Village of New Era wondered how it could capitalize on such a large building and considered purchasing it to rent part of it to the New Era Christian School (NECS) for a daycare facility and using another part of it for a community center.
NECS volunteer Laurie Eppink shared, “We kept hearing people in the community say there was a real need for daycare, and the New Era Christian School had long wanted to meet (that) need. But the school had no space in their facility to house a daycare program. In fact, the school had insufficient space for programs they wished to offer their own student body. They explored using a church basement or remodeling a house they owned, but the strict codes to renovate for daycare space were cost prohibitive. Purchasing the old Hillcrest campus seemed like a dream out of reach.”
However, in May 2026, several things fell into place. The New Era Village Council reached an agreement with Shelby Public Schools to purchase the New Era Elementary School building. Shortly afterward a generous donor purchased the facility from the Village of New Era and donated it to the New Era Christian School Society.
NECS Board President Scott Meyers stated, “At that point we had to make some big decisions if we were to use the building for the 2026-2027 school year. It would require a much larger budget than planned for the year, and it would require an incredible amount of work in 12 weeks to organize a daycare program and renovate two facilities to meet code for new uses.”
With prayer and faith, the group moved forward with program planning and building renovation. In just three months a miraculous transformation took place. The NECS building, already meeting code for preschool, required minimal changes to meet all state code requirements for daycare space. Heeding the natural developmental divide between second and third grades, it was decided that daycare and preschool through grade 2 would be kept together in the school’s original building, now serving as the Early Childhood Center. Grades 3-8 were moved to the Hillcrest building.
This facility offers larger rooms, including space for a media center, library, art room and band. It was renovated to include a state-of-the-art science laboratory and an entry foyer that met security codes. Trees were removed, and new landscaping was planted for an exterior facelift. An outdoor classroom space was created. New floors and ceilings and new paint on every wall created a fresh look inside. Construction on a full-sized gym and a performing arts center (also available for community use) will begin this fall for use in the 2027-2028 school year.
NECS Principal Jim Eppink said, “The provision of contractors, skilled volunteers and community funding was simply amazing. Residents with no previous connection to New Era Christian School gave generously. The community was gratified to see Hillcrest used once more for educational purposes and grateful to see a much-needed daycare program. The daycare program operates Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Daycare is also offered before and after school hours for students whose parents need that support.”
Meyers reported, “The outpouring of support was humbling. It came from people who cared about the future of the building, the community and the children who will learn there. On behalf of the board, I invite all local residents and other interested persons to join us for a community Open House on Oct. 8 from 5-7 p.m. Guests will have an opportunity to tour the renovated building and see how this former school has been given new life.”
