Bradley Simmons has been appointed as the new County Engineer for Cochise County, effective April 13, according to an announcement from the county on Apr. 14.
The appointment is significant for Cochise County as it seeks to maintain and improve its infrastructure while planning for future needs. The role of county engineer involves overseeing engineering functions that support local infrastructure, development, and long-term planning efforts.
Director of Public Works Jason Faccio said, “Bradley brings a strong skill set and a practical understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing Cochise County. We’re confident in his ability to support the infrastructure needs of our communities.”
Recent educational statistics highlight some of the challenges facing Cochise County. In the 2022-23 school year, 70% of students in grades three through eight did not pass the mathematics section of the AASA assessment according to data from the Arizona Department of Education. For high schoolers during that same period, 76% failed the mathematics section on their ACT exams according to state education reports. Additionally, English proficiency remains a concern; 62.4% of students in grades three through eight failed the English section on AASA assessments as reported by state education officials, while among high schoolers, 65% did not pass English on their ACT tests according to state data.
However, there have been improvements in recent testing cycles. In the most recent (2023-24) school year ACT results, 27% of high schoolers passed mathematics as noted by education authorities, and for students in grades three through eight taking AASA math assessments during that period, a passing rate of 28.5% was recorded per state figures.
Cochise County leaders say they remain committed to maintaining critical infrastructure while addressing these ongoing community challenges.
