The Alabama legislature has recently approved a new high school that will focus on preparing students for careers in healthcare, science, and technology. This new school, called the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences, will be a tuition-free public high school located in Demopolis but open to students from across the state.
Governor Kay Ivey supported the bill and it is now awaiting her signature after passing the Senate by a vote of 28-3. The proposal aims to address the shortage of healthcare workers in Alabama. The new school will join three existing residential public high schools in Alabama that draw students from across the state: the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham, the Alabama School of Math and Science in Mobile, and the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering in Huntsville.
Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton praised the new school as another asset for the state to be proud of. However, Senator Larry Stutts, a doctor, was one of three Senators who voted against it. Stutts believed that creating a new residential high school would not be beneficial for students or for the state’s budget. Instead, he suggested funding smaller programs across Alabama.
Despite some opposition, Governor Ivey anticipates that the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences will benefit students from all over the state and strengthen the healthcare workforce. The proposed education budget for the next fiscal year includes a $15 million appropriation for this new school.