Lawmakers in Alabama have approved the creation of a new high school that focuses on preparing students for careers in healthcare, science and technology. The Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences will be a tuition-free public high school located in Demopolis. Despite being based in Demopolis, students from all over the state will be able to attend the school.
Governor Kay Ivey had proposed this idea in her State of the State address at the beginning of the legislative session. She believes that this new school will provide valuable education to students who will eventually contribute to the healthcare workforce in the state. The Alabama Senate passed the bill with a vote of 28-3, and now it awaits Governor Ivey’s signature.
The Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences will join three existing residential public high schools in Alabama that draw students from all over 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 sees this new school as an asset that the state can be proud of.
However, not all senators were supportive of this bill. Sen. Larry Stutts, a doctor, was one of three senators who voted against it. He believed that instead of creating a new residential high school, smaller programs across the state would be more effective at helping more students prepare for careers in healthcare and technology. The proposed education budget includes a $15 million appropriation for
