Cochise County accommodation school superintendent reviews budget, student services and residency limits

Dr. Jackie Clayton, Cochise County school superintendent, presented the annual budget review for the Cochise County Accommodation School during a Board of Supervisors work session, describing current enrollment, funding arrangements, staffing models and program priorities.

The briefing matters because the accommodation school serves opportunity youth who have dropped out of traditional schools, offers instruction to students who are incarcerated, and affects school accountability metrics and district funding. Clayton said the presentation was required by state law and framed the program as both educational and remedial for students ages 16–22.

Clayton opened by saying the accommodation school “is an actual school” and described its mission: “Our mission is 16 to 22 year olds. We provide motivation, direction, and purpose.” She told the board the program is primarily funded through state per‑student revenue and grant income, and that the office acts as fiscal agent for several small districts in the county (all districts except Sierra Vista, she said). She asked the board to consider only salary increases that align with any countywide adjustments; she did not request an overall program budget increase.

On enrollment, Clayton gave several figures during the presentation. She said Cochise County serves a relatively small…