Contributed Column By Stephen Estatico – Superior Unified School District Superintendent
As a lifelong educator and superintendent of the Superior Unified School District, I’ve seen firsthand how education can unlock potential. I’ve also seen how limited resources can just as easily hold students back.
In many rural communities across Arizona, public schools are facing an uphill battle, characterized by aging facilities, underfunded programs, and staffing shortages. Large mining projects in the Copper Corridor can help reverse this trend.
Resolution Copper, a proposed underground copper mine in Superior, has long recognized that a strong education is the cornerstone of success and that it can happen right here in our town. Over the last 20 years, Resolution Copper has awarded hundreds of thousands in financial assistance to local students pursuing higher education, while also encouraging exploration of career opportunities in the mining industry and related STEM fields.
For example, just last year, their support helped upgrade our STEM lab. That gave students in Superior access to tools and technologies typically reserved for large, urban districts. They’ve partnered with us on career readiness programs, connected students with industry mentors, and offered scholarships to those pursuing trades or engineering degrees. And when the pandemic strained school budgets, they stepped in with funding that allowed us to retain educators and avoid program cuts.
These are not abstract gestures. They are investments that have helped students discover their passions and provided teachers with the tools to serve their classrooms better.
Mining plays a vital role in Arizona’s economy, and that includes its impact on public education. Through taxes, partnerships, and philanthropy, mining projects like Resolution Copper create ripple effects that benefit entire communities, especially students. That’s why I’m excited that Resolution Copper is back on track to be fully permitted after years of delay.
For Superior, a fully operational mine will be a game changer. I am confident that Resolution Copper will continue to support us in building the kind of school system our students deserve. One that prepares them for careers in science, engineering, and the skilled trades, right here at home.
As conversations around mining continue statewide, I hope we remember what is at stake. For towns like ours, this is not just about economic development; it’s about preserving our way of life. It is about educational opportunity.
Let’s give Arizona students the future they’ve earned.
The opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the author.
