After much excitement and anticipation on her part, Governor Kay Ivey has signed legislation officially creating the Alabama School of Healthcare and Sciences. The new residential high school will be located in Demopolis and is set to open in the fall of 2026.
At a bill signing ceremony on Tuesday, Ivey spoke about the importance and potential of the new school.
“Establishing this specialty school here in Demopolis is no doubt the most significant investment in West Alabama in decades,” said Ivey. “But it’s much more than that. The Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences will help more Alabama students open the doors to their futures. It will bring more men and women in our healthcare workforce.”
“It will change the trajectory of rural healthcare in our state.”
Local legislators and leaders also ushered the school forward from concept to reality on Tuesday alongside Governor Ivey. State Sen. Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro) noted the financial impact that the educational institution will have on the Demopolis area down the line.
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“The return on the investment of this school will be better than any economic development project in the next 50 year.”
State Rep. Cynthia Almond (R-Tuscaloosa) expressed her gratitude towards the citizens of Demopolis for their efforts in bringing the school to the community
“What really made this project successful was you, the people of Demopolis,” said Almond. “Your community rallied together and made a showing of support that impacted the decision-makers in Montgomery. The hard work has paid off.”
“Let’s get to work. Let’s build a first-class school so we can move Alabama forward.”
Eager to showcase the area, Rep. A.J. McCampbell (D-Linden) spoke of its hospitality.
“The people of Demopolis are a family that will bring these young people into their homes and feed them Sunday dinner,” he said. “We will be educating these children right here in Demopolis, and the whole nation will be watching to see what we’re doing.”
Chair of the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences Foundation, Rob Pearson, said that the real work begins now.
“The challenge of turning the old New Era plant into a completely new era of healthcare education. Of turning visions and concepts into graduates. Of making Demopolis known for being the home of the top healthcare high school in the nation.”
“That effort starts here. Today.”
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.
