HENDRY COUNTY — Hendry County Schools told residents it expects a final construction permit from the South Florida Water Management District within days and is preparing for site mobilization and a possible mid-February groundbreaking.

Speaker 2 said the district is "sitting on pins and needles" awaiting the permit and that if it is granted contractors will mobilize and the district will post the permit publicly. The district said the construction start is roughly four months behind original projections but officials still anticipate students using the facility in August 2027; district staff said the class of '27 would graduate from that facility in 2028.

Officials cautioned the building may not be 100% complete by opening but said they expect classrooms to be ready for learning even if some finishing work continues. The district described plans to make the site look like an active construction zone before a public groundbreaking ceremony so the event will reflect visible progress.

No formal vote or contract award was announced at the meeting; officials said final mobilization depends on the pending permit from the South Florida Water Management District.

Next steps: district officials said they expect to post the permit once received and to schedule a public groundbreaking if contractors mobilize.