In a bid to address the shortage of healthcare workers in Alabama, state lawmakers have approved the creation of a new high school focused 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 open to students from across the state.
The proposal aims to provide students with the skills and knowledge they need to pursue careers in these fields, which are in high demand in Alabama. Governor Kay Ivey supported the bill, and it has now been sent to her for signature after passing the Senate by a vote of 28-3.
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, not everyone was happy with the decision. Senator Larry Stutts, a doctor, voted against the bill because he believed that funding smaller programs across Alabama would better serve students than creating a new residential high school. Despite this opposition, Governor Ivey remains optimistic about the potential benefits of the new school. She anticipates that it will benefit students from all over
