ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Central Florida students have a few days left of summer break before school starts on Aug. 12.

However, one Orange County school is facing a tight deadline to finish a renovation project before students return to class.

The $36.6 million renovation project, which includes its roofs, gym, media center and performance areas, has been in the works at Howard Middle School for close to a year now. 

While Orange County Public Schools says it has made progress, officials are still waiting for the last safety inspections before they can let students and staff in the building. 

Alicia Worrell has two eighth-graders who attend Howard Middle School.

She is among many parents who say it is unsettling not knowing what will happen just a few days before school starts.

“We understand that they’re working as hard as they can and the administrators have been doing a good job trying to stay in touch with us to keep us posted, but it seems like they don’t really know what’s happening,” Worrell said.

Even though parents like Worrell said they would’ve liked to know about these potential delays sooner, they’re ready to roll with the punches.

“Worst-case scenario, they’ll have their laptops, and at least after COVID, we kind of have a little bit of a sense of what it’s like to work remotely," she said. "It’s certainly no comparison to being in person, but we’ll make the best of it.”

School Parent Teacher Student Association President Cristina Brossard agreed that this is a small momentary inconvenience compared to what parents dealt with during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the ongoing renovations on the 100-year-old building, Orange County Public Schools said it's just waiting for the contractor to issue the Certificate of Occupancy that will allow students and staff to use the building safely come Monday.

Events like laptop pickups for seventh- and eighth-graders took place as scheduled on Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sixth-graders will be the only grade level meeting their teachers on Thursday from noon to 4 p.m. because of limited space.

The renovation project wasn’t the only concern on people’s minds, though. A water main project that has barred off most of East Robinson Street is still being worked on.

Some neighbors in the Thornton Park area, like Kevin Pino, say it will create even more issues for parents and students.

“The morning, it’s not really that bad. But in evenings, parents are fighting with each other. We have accidents. We have kids that were almost hit over by the 7/11 on Summerlin,” Pino said.

However, OUC Public Relations Manager Derek Hudson said, “The work in front of Howard Middle School should be completed before Monday, Aug. 12, the first day of school. We anticipate construction of the overall project to be completed by this December.”

Hudson said all that’s left is the re-pavement of the road facing the front of the school.

The city of Orlando said that the Orlando Police Department will help direct traffic at Summerlin and Robinson streets to assist during pickup and drop-off periods.

Michael Ollendorff from OCPS said, despite the water main project, “We are prepared for our students to arrive safely on campus.”