Has he left the project in good hands or is it in complete stasis?
It is his school, but the least we could do, who support the project, is have the construction and all else ready for when he's come around to head the dojo—so when he is back, all he needs to do is flip the switch and the Warring Society will be back into gear.
Perhaps one of you who are closer to him could relay what huge demand there still is for a fighting school.