The Brevard County (Florida) district is constructing a school building for students with significant behavioral and emotional needs.

Florida Today reports that the Gardendale Separate Day School is being built on the eastern side of the campus of Kennedy Middle School in Rockledge and is intended to provide a structured, therapeutic setting for instruction and behavioral support for K-12 students.

The separate day school began operating in Merritt Island after 2022 when the third-party operator for the county's previous facilities chose not to renew its contract. The closed Gardendale Elementary facility was then chosen to provide those services.

The new building is sized to house about 156 students with a construction value of about $19.5 million.

The school will serve students from kindergarten through 12th grade, combining academic instruction with behavioral guidance and emotional support services.

Planned features include structured classrooms, sensory regulation and calming spaces, areas for mental health and therapeutic support, safety-focused design elements, technology-enhanced learning tools, and outdoor spaces for structured play and emotional regulation.