The Alabama Legislature gave final approval Thursday to a plan to create a residential, public high school in Demopolis that’s focused on educating future health care professionals.
Gov. Kay Ivey first proposed the high school in early 2023 as a way to increase the number of health care workers in the state. But some lawmakers were skeptical about the rural Black Belt location, its ability to attract students and potential cost.
“We’re going to show the state that it can be done; we’re going to make you proud,” Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, said on the Senate floor Thursday.
The tuition-free school will be open to students from around the state.
Ivey praised the bill’s final passage Thursday.
“Students from all over Alabama will soon benefit from an education at this specialty high school and then go on to bolster our healthcare workforce,” Ivey said in a written statement. “The Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences is yet another way our state is leading the nation in innovative education solutions.”
The school could open as early as the fall of 2026, according to House Bill 163. It was sponsored in the House by Rep. Cynthia Almond, R-Tuscaloosa.
Last year, the Legislature commissioned a $500,000 private study on the best location for the school.
Sen. Lance Bell, R-Riverside, said on the Senate floor Thursday the state should get its half million back. He represents Pell City, one of the cities considered in the study. He cited several points from the report where Pell City outranked Demopolis, including crime and safety, internet access and parental location preferences. Bell and others argued a better investment of state dollars would be increasing dual enrollment programs for high school students across the state.
“I hope (the new school) succeeds, I hope it’s successful, I hope it’s full, but I’d like to do more next year (for dual enrollment,)” Bell said.
While Bell ultimately voted for the bill, three others did not: Sens. Chris Elliott, R-Josephine, Sen. Larry Stutts, R-Tuscumbia, and Sen. April Weaver, R-Brierfield. Each discussed their concerns on the Senate floor.
Weaver praised the support and passion of the Demopolis community in advocating for the high school, but said she’s still “very skeptical.”
“Do I believe there is a better way to address rural health care challenges,” she said.
Stutts agreed.
“This money is a lot better spent funding the career tech programs already all over the state,” he said. “… I’m for the program but I’m going to vote against the bill because I want the money spread out across the state.”
This will be the state’s fourth public, residential high school. Others are in Mobile, Birmingham and Huntsville.
Singleton said those cities didn’t have to fight for their projects like Demopolis has.
In January, Bloomberg Philanthropies pledged $26.4 million to the school, pending state investment.
Ivey in February proposed spending $30 million from a supplemental education spending bill on the project, but the House committee that approved the proposal moving forward earlier in the week reduced the amount to $20 million. Chairman Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, previously said some other rural health and education needs could be addressed with the $10 million.
Several senators spoke in support of the effort. Sen. David Sessions, R-Mobile, said students from the Black Belt come to the fine arts high school in that city and he looks forward to students from his district attending school in Demopolis.
Others said the effort will have benefits statewide.
“It may help your district, but I am convinced it will help Alabama,” Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, said.