Governor Kay Ivey has proposed the creation of a new high school in Alabama 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, but students from all over the state will be able to attend. This new school aims to address the shortage of healthcare workers in Alabama.
The bill passed the Alabama Senate with a vote of 28-3 and now awaits the Governor’s signature. Senator Bobby Singleton sees this new school as an asset that the state can be proud of, joining three existing residential public high schools in Alabama: 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.
However, not all senators were in favor of the 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, the state could support smaller programs across the state to help more students. The proposed education budget includes a $15 million appropriation for the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences.
