The Hendry County School District held a meeting on April 3, 2025, focusing on several key initiatives, including the approval of a memorandum of understanding with Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) and updates on the construction of the new LaBelle High School.

Superintendent's recommendation for the board to approve the FGCU memorandum was discussed, although no formal motion was made during the meeting. This memorandum aims to establish a Collegiate Academy provider for Collison High School, which is expected to enhance educational opportunities for students.

The meeting also provided an update on the new LaBelle High School project. The architectural drawings are currently between 30% and 60% complete, with subcontractor meetings already underway to engage local vendors for the construction. Groundbreaking is anticipated for late summer, around August or September, coinciding with the start of the school year. The district is also seeking an additional $33 million in funding to address inflation-related cost increases for the project, which is currently included in the governor's and senate's budgets.

In addition to construction updates, the district is preparing for the upcoming summer food program, which aims to expand meal delivery routes based on last year's success. The Sodexo team is already organizing logistics to ensure that school-aged children have access to meals throughout the summer.

The meeting concluded with discussions about the strategic plan for 2025-2028, which is in its final editing phase. Feedback from teachers and staff will be gathered before presenting it to the board in the next meeting. Community engagement events are also planned to discuss the strategic plan and gather input on school start times and the calendar for the following year.

Overall, the meeting highlighted the district's commitment to enhancing educational programs and infrastructure while ensuring community involvement in decision-making processes.