The Lee County School Board gave a nod of approval Tuesday to move forward with the new K-8 Hector A. Cafferata Jr. Elementary School.

The district plans to build the new K-8 school on vacant property at 214 N.W. 20th Ave., in Cape Coral.

Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier said during Tuesday night’s meeting that the school board gave him authority to begin to establish the construction process for Hector A. Cafferata Jr. Elementary School. He can now direct staff to develop the design, phase one, and construction, phase two, portions of the project.

During Tuesday night’s meeting, the board also conducted its Lee County School Board Leasing Corporation meeting, which gave approval to tear down the old elementary school, which was damaged by Hurricane Ian.

“The property being leveled will be a signal to the community, we are taking it down in one place and building it back in another,” Bernier said.

Hector A. Cafferata students currently are attending school in portable classrooms at a temporary campus.