Governor Kay Ivey has supported a new high school in Alabama that will focus on preparing students for careers in healthcare, science, and technology. Located in Demopolis but open to students from across the state, the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences aims to address the shortage of healthcare workers in the state. This new school will join 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.
Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton praised this new addition as another asset for the state to be proud of. However, Senator Larry Stutts, a doctor, voted against it. He believed that funding smaller programs across Alabama would better serve students than creating a new residential high school. The proposed education budget for the next fiscal year includes a $15 million appropriation for the school. Governor Ivey anticipates that this new school will benefit students from all over the state and strengthen the healthcare workforce.