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ROCKLEDGE, Fla. Brevard Public Schools says it has broken ground on a new, purpose-built K-12 Separate Day School designed to serve students with significant behavioral and emotional needs.

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District officials say the campus, to be known as Gardendale Separate Day School, is being built on the Kennedy Middle School site in Rockledge, a central location intended to make services more accessible to families across Brevard’s 72-mile district.

In a district news release, Brevard Public Schools described the facility as a highly structured, therapeutic learning environment that combines academic instruction with behavioral guidance and emotional support under one roof.

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Planned features highlighted by the district include structured classrooms, sensory regulation and calming spaces, dedicated areas for mental health and therapeutic support, technology-enhanced learning tools, and outdoor areas designed for structured play and emotional regulation.

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The district also emphasized cost and financing, stating the project is being completed without taking on new debt.

School Board Chair Matt Susin called the groundbreaking a step toward “building stability, hope, and a future” for students with the greatest needs. Other board members, including Megan Wright, Gene Trent, John Thomas, and Katye Campbell, also praised the project as an investment in the district’s most vulnerable students and the families who rely on specialized services.

Brevard Public Schools has not yet announced an opening date or construction timeline in its public release.