COUNTY PUT IN NEW LIGHT POLES, RESTROOMS AND SIDEWALKS. ROTTENBERG PARK ISN’T THE ONLY PLACE MAKING A COMEBACK. AFTER IAN, A CAPE CORAL SCHOOLS BEING REBUILT AND ANOTHER IS EXPANDING. HECTOR A CAFFERATA IS NEW K THROUGH 8 SCHOOL WILL BE A NORTHWEST 20TH AVENUE. THE OLD SCHOOL OFF OF SANTA BARBARA HAD TO BE TORN DOWN NOW. ITS FORMER NEIGHBOR KEEP TECHNICAL SCHOOL IS GROWING. GULF COAST NEWS REPORTER AND A TOUCH GASOL IS IN THE CAPE. FINDING OUT WHEN THE PROJECT WILL BE FINISHED. >> CONSTRUCTION IS NEAR COMPLETION FOR 2 SCHOOLS HERE IN CAPE CORAL AFTER SUFFERING FROM MASS DESTRUCTION FROM HURRICANE IAN NEARLY 4 YEARS AGO. THE WALLS ARE NOW FINALLY UP. ALL THAT’S LEFT TO BE DONE IS RIGHT INSIDE. >> WHEN HECTOR A CAFFERATA REOPENS IN NORTHWEST CAPE CORAL, IT WON’T JUST BE AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. STUDENTS WILL NOW BE ABLE TO GO THERE THROUGH 8TH GRADE. THEY’RE EXCITED FOR THIS NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR FAMILIES AND STUDENTS AND OUR FACULTY AND STAFF. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS ALSO EXPANDING CAPE CORAL TECHNICAL COLLEGE WITH NEW OPPORTUNITIES ON THE WAY ADDING WELDING HVAC CONSTRUCTION TRADES, MARINE SERVICE FOR BOATS AND AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE WILL BE THE FIRST OF ITS KIND POST-SECONDARY CAREER. ANY YEAR TRADES TRAINING CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS IN THE ENTIRE CITY CAPE CORAL. AT THE NEW HECTOR, A CAFFERATA K THROUGH 8 SCHOOL. >> THERE WILL BE A RENEWED FOCUS ON GETTING KIDS PREPARED FOR THE FUTURE. WE’LL HAVE SOME MENTORING PROGRAMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND THEN >> REALLY HAVE AN ENVIRONMENTAL KISS SUSTAINABILITY. THE IDEA EVENTUALLY WILL HAVE SOME OF THE FLOOR ECOSYSTEMS RIGHT HERE ON CAMPUS. THIS IS WALK THROUGH THE WETLANDS. THE YOU KNOW, THE GRASS FLATS, THE PINE FLATWOODS THOSE ARE REALLY BE LEARNING OPPORTUNIT
Cape Coral schools rebuild and expand after Hurricane Ian devastation
Updated: 9:16 PM EST Feb 24, 2026
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.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
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.
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.