In the latest major step toward making the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences a reality, the City of Demopolis announced it has officially transferred ownership of the former New Era plant property to the school’s foundation after receiving unanimous approval from the Demopolis City Council.
“For our city, there is absolutely no greater value of this land than the value created by the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences,” said Demopolis Mayor Woody Collins. “From the new students to faculty, staff, and administrators, the City Council and I know this school has the potential to transform Demopolis.”
“It is a good investment for the city, and it’s a great investment for the future of our citizens.”
Rob Pearson, Chairman of the ASHS Foundation, expressed his gratitude to the citizens of Demopolis for their support.
“One of the reasons Demopolis was chosen as the right city for this school was because of the support from Mayor Collins and members of our local government,” Pearson said. “We are so grateful for the encouragement we’ve received from this community, and we are committed to building a school that will serve our city, as well as the entire state.”
Caldwell Architects, a firm with over 30 years of experience in creating Educational and Healthcare facilities, has been selected to design the new school.
Brian E. Brooker AIA, LEED AP, Associate Principal and Senior Project Architect of the company, said that he has his own reasons for being excited the firm was awarded the job.
“I am personally enthused about this opportunity as the site for this new residential high school is located directly adjacent to both Whitfield Regional Hospital, where I was born, and the original Demopolis High School, where I received my first diploma. Being part of developing this learning environment focused on the much-needed healthcare services in the Black Belt, as well as creating the daily learning and living environment for its students and faculty, brings me full circle.”
“Our team looks forward to collaborating with the many supporters, colleagues, and disciplines required to bring this project to successful fruition which we see as generations of medical professionals emerging from this school, ready to serve the people and needs of their communities for many years to come.”
Upon opening, the school will be offering a STEMM (science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine) based curriculum focused on healthcare. This residential, specialty high school, part of the Alabama public school system, will offer curricula, instruction and work-based training focused on the health sciences to prepare students for career-readiness in the healthcare industry. Among the chief purposes of the school is to alleviate the rural healthcare workforce shortage in Alabama.
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten
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