As school doors open in Grantsville this week, our community owes a profound debt of gratitude to the many who stepped up and devoted time, labor, materials and financial resources to ensure that each child had a classroom and the supplies needed to begin this school year (“Community chips in to relocate Grantsville Elementary teachers,” Aug. 18). The fire of July 13 caused far more damage than initially estimated and displaced hundreds of students and dozens of teachers and staff. With just six weeks until school was to open, Grantsville and our neighboring communities came together in a remarkable way to see that classes began on time. Karen Stanworth and Geri Welch, both Wal-Mart Distribution Center employees, asked their general manager Jeff Loafman, “What can we do to help?” and from there the volunteerism mushroomed. Local and regional businesses contributed, students and parents got involved, and even the GHS football team pitched in to help. Teachers have put their losses behind them and face the school year with a sense of adventure. Principals have opened their doors to welcome the additional occupants. No one has worked harder in resolving the challenges at hand than Tooele County School District Superintendent Terry Linares. She has labored day and night to see that the necessary changes are the least disruptive possible. How blessed we are to live in a valley where people care about the children of others as well as their own, where folks work together and support one another and make good things happen.

Karen Nelson

Grantsville