Resolution Copper donating nearly $3K for reading program at Gold Canyon school

Patricia Smith

AJUSD

One of the things they shared with me is that our students that we currently have at Peralta Trail are the students they are going to be looking for to hire when the mine opens up. And so they want to make sure they’re contributing and helping to build what we’re doing at Peralta Trail.”

Patricia Smith, Peralta Trail Elementary School principal

Education

$20M bond election in November for Apache Junction school district

Education

Early-kindergarten screens now cost $35 in Apache Junction school district

Recreation

Apache Junction offers summer youth camp at new location

By Richard Dyer
Mail | X: @RHDyer

Resolution Copper Mining LLC has offered to donate $2,800 to pay for reading and phonics intervention resources at Peralta Trail Elementary School in Gold Canyon.

PTES Principal Patricia Smith recently had a meeting with Resolution Copper officials, she said at the Apache Junction Unified School District Governing Board’s May 28 meeting.

“One of the things they shared with me is that our students that we currently have at Peralta Trail are the students they are going to be looking for to hire when the mine opens up. And so they want to make sure they’re contributing and helping to build what we’re doing at Peralta Trail,” she said.

“(W)e were talking about STEM and how Peralta Trail was becoming our STEM school within our district and what opportunities and resources do we have for our students. But also we were talking about the need for improving our reading and those interventions and the resources that are needed. So what came before you is a $2,800 funding agreement to be able to purchase some of those additional small-group reading resources so we can provide those reading interventions for students,” Smith said.

In exchange for the funding, AJUSD is to publicly thank Resolution Copper on all school social media sites as well as parent newsletters; and also attach a label to all materials recognizing Resolution Copper as the provider of the materials, according to a funding agreement to be approved at an upcoming AJUSD board meeting.

“I think this is a great partnership for us to have with the mining company,” Superintendent Robert Pappalardo said during the May 28 meeting,

The three school board members at the meeting voiced their support of the donation.

“It’s so nice when we get people or organizations within our community that are investing in our students. And rightfully so, they will be their employees potentially someday. So it’s a great idea,” Board Member Gail Ross said.

“Hey, let’s do it,” Board Vice President Gil Cancio said.

“They are a really great company to connect with, for sure,” Board President Dena Kimble said.

Board members Bobby Bauders and Cami Garcia were absent from the May 28 meeting.

Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.

Richard Dyer
Managing Editor | East Valley

rdyer@iniusa.org

Meet Richard
Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.  

Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions. 

Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.

Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.

Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.