Cape Coral schools rebuild and expand after Hurricane Ian devastation

CAPE CORAL, Fla. —

Hector A. Cafferata Jr. Elementary School in Cape Coral, destroyed by Hurricane Ian in 2022, is being rebuilt and expanded to become a K-8 school, with completion expected by August 2026 to accommodate more students.

Dr. Jason Kurtz, principal of Hector A. Cafferata Jr. School, expressed enthusiasm for the new development.

"We're excited for this new opportunity for our families and our students and our faculty and staff," he said.

Since the hurricane, students have been attending classes at a temporary campus at Cape Coral Technical College. The district is also expanding Cape Coral Technical College, with construction nearing completion.

The expansion aims to enhance access to blue-collar workforce training, introducing six new programs in HVAC, auto mechanics, and more. The 30,000-square-foot facility will offer programs in construction, HVAC, welding, automotive service, and marine service technology.

Charlie Pease, director, highlighted the significance of the new programs.

"We're adding welding, HVAC, construction trades, marine service for boats, and automotive service. It'll be the first of its kind post-secondary, career any year trades training certification programs in the entire city of Cape Coral," he said.

Corey O'Donnell from James Kimball Company emphasized the importance of trades in community development.

"Trades are such an important part of what our communities need to grow and sustain themselves as a community. So being a part of building and building trades and welding and HVAC and marine, it's like it's all the things that we love about Southwest Florida. We're able to help bring those jobs to fruition," he said.

At the new Hector A. Cafferata K-8 School, there will be a renewed focus on preparing students for the future.

"We received the federal magnet grant. And so we're calling ourselves a lead school, the county's only lead school leadership, environmental and design. And so we're really focusing on those leadership qualities," Kurtz said.

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