Though there is a misconception that those who go into education do so because they want to continue having summers off for the rest of their careers, a quick look at how many moving parts ground to a halt earlier this week for Wood County Schools gives a reminder that these folks work for our kids year-round.

As crews battled a blaze just outside Parkersburg on Camden Avenue, buses had to be moved, facilities in the area had to be monitored, and decisions had to be made.

Martin Elementary School, Edison Middle School, Franklin Elementary Center, the district’s MIS computer and IT department, Edgelawn Elementary School and Erickson All-Sports Facility all required personnel to determine whether there were any smoke or odor issues.

Summer programs — and summer school — had to be put on hold. They had to get creative with the help of community partners who jumped in for the summer feeding program.

Coaches made adjustments for their teams’ training and other activities.

And now those same people are turning to the task of cleaning the buses that were staged at Edgelawn during the response period. Student safety remains the top priority.

Though it is not in the same way as during the official academic year, Wood County Schools employees are working to educate, coach and meet students’ needs throughout the summer. They have been asked to take on more and more responsibility for our kids’ wellbeing and they have risen to the occasion, even when a disaster means they need to be innovative in doing so.

Certainly, Wood County Schools is not the only entity that is shining this week; and they are not the only local school district that shoulders such a year-long burden for its students. But the disruption highlighted how much many of us take for granted — or were simply unaware of — as the district persists in its work for our kids.