Hardee board approves Wiseman contract and submits priorities to advance new senior high design

The Hardee County School Board on Aug. 14 approved a contract with Wiseman Construction for professional construction-management services and authorized the superintendent to submit a project-priority list to the Florida Department of Education to pursue special-facilities funding for a new Hardee Senior High.

Board members moved agenda item 10.02 up to 8.02 so the district could consider the construction-management contract before other business. Doctor Sharp made the motion to approve the Wiseman contract; Miss Dasher seconded. Attorney-level review and board questions focused on contingency language: the district will only owe funds if the state special-facilities appropriation is approved. The board voted unanimously to authorize the superintendent or designee to execute related documents to advance the project to the design phase.

Wiseman representative Mister Wiseman told the board the contract mirrors one used successfully at another district project and said the firm would remain available to answer questions throughout design and construction. Board members noted Wiseman Construction’s local involvement and community contributions and thanked the representative for attending the meeting.

Later in the meeting the board approved a separate motion to submit the district’s project-priority list (item 10.01) to the Florida Department of Education as part of the special-facilities appropriation process. That motion also passed unanimously. Both approvals were framed by board members as necessary steps to position the district to receive state funding; the district reiterated that expenditures are contingent on state approval of special-facilities funds.

Next steps include advancing the project into the design phase, completing required state submittals, and returning to the board with further documents and timelines as the design and funding processes proceed.