When Judy Pentz moved to Paradox and went to work at Paradox Valley School (PVS) in 2002, she knew it would be a tough job. The school as a charter had been in existence a few years, but was struggling to find itself, she told the Forum in a Nov. 6 interview. Then, she was a veteran teacher of multiple grades and had worked on curriculum development. She ended up agreeing to work at PVS, though she knew retirement was in her future.
“I felt I was supposed to be there,” she said.
During her time at the charter, she said the school blossomed creatively. There were 50-55 students attending, and families wanted something other than other than what West End Public Schools District was offering. There were four classrooms: preschool, kindergarten-first, third through fifth, plus middle school.
Pentz said the staff clicked, and there was a creative energy.
“We flowed together, and it was a fun place to be,” she said.
She said the community was always supportive and wanted to give back to the school. For her, it was a special place.
Later, some difficulties arose: leadership changed; government regulations became more challenging; and the COVID pandemic was hard on all schools. Next, PVS got a new board of directors, but the overall cohesiveness just wasn’t there. Pentz said things felt disconnected at many levels, from the office, to staff and students.
In 2023, PVS shut down altogether.
The school and its grounds remained special to Pentz, however. She even moved into a teacher unit on the school property. While it wasn’t an elegant place to live, she made it work for years. And, when PVS, including her unit, went on the market to be sold this year, it greatly upset her.
“This school belongs to this community, not legally, but rightfully,’” Pentz said she told the realtor on site June 3. “I said, ‘We will get this school back. It’s rightfully ours.”
At the time, some thought the property might used for the Four Seasons man camps. Next, questions about zoning and water were raised.
Pentz then began a conversation with representatives of Redd Ranches, renown legacy ranchers of the area, and something shifted. She said Steve Redd listened to her and truly understood the importance of the school facility. Many in the Redd family had attended the school, decades past, before it was a charter.
On Sept. 29, Pentz made the announcement that PVS had sold, and that it had a new “manager.” Next, in October, another online news release was circulating, shared again on Nov. 5, by Dallin Redd.
That news release said the school was under new ownership. It added the Redd family donated funds for UI Charitable, a philanthropic organization, to purchase the campus, and the family is now the steward of it with Dallin Redd serving as project director.
“The property itself belongs to the nonprofit and will be held as a charitable asset for the community,” the news release said.
Now, the Redd family will direct how the facility is used but work with the Paradox community. Future possibilities include a community gathering place; a space for classes, programs and recreation; an emergency services hub; and the return of a school.
An online survey also asked people what they’d like to see happen. Anyone who’d like to complete the survey may access it at forms.gle/LNRWux4dSmVfAjSw9.
Pentz told the Forum she was deeply relieved, and very grateful for the Redd family. She said UI Charitable was an “amazing” organization, and they’ve helped Paradox retain its community resource.
Anyone who’d like to learn more about UI Charitable may visit uicharitable.org/about-us. The website states UI Charitable helps “individuals, families, organizations, and financial advisors achieve their charitable goals through tailored support, strategic guidance, and innovative tools.”
Time well tell what happens next at the old Paradox Valley School.
