Brevard schools outline $47 million plan to add classrooms in fast-growing South Brevard

District staff presented a multi-year plan Jan. 21 to add capacity in South Brevard — primarily serving Palm Bay — that would add classroom buildings at Westside Elementary, build a new Bayside high school and convert Sunrise Elementary into a K–8 model.

The district said the work is intended to respond to rapid development around the St. John’s Heritage Parkway interchange and other areas of Palm Bay. “The size and scope of the development activity in Palm Bay is really kind of analogous to what has happened in Viera over the years,” said Sue Hann, a district staff presenter, describing proposed and in-progress residential developments and a large number of quarter-acre platted lots.

Why it matters: The group of proposed projects — district staff estimated a combined cost of roughly $47,000,000 — would be funded largely from South Area educational impact fees collected by Brevard County. The district said it has about $19,000,000 in impact-fee cash available now and can finance and stage work so projects proceed as money becomes available.

District proposals, estimates and timing - Westside Elementary: staff…