Take for a moment the plan or plans you have in place for your family over the coming weeks and multiple that by 7,000. That is the level of planning, concern and focus that it has taken on the part of the Vicksburg Warren School District in coordinating the start of online learning next week.

There is no way to comprehend the moving parts that are involved in transitioning an entire school system from a traditional in-classroom model to one that is solely based on students working from home and online.

There is no way to comprehend the hurdles jumped to go from instructing more than 7,000 students, who are used to listening to their teachers instruction, working through problems together — in person — and then asking those same students and teachers to accomplish many of the same goals, but doing so remotely, away from one another.

But while it may be difficult for us to comprehend those challenges, it was a necessity on the part of the teachers and administrators of the Vicksburg Warren School District. They had to solve the problems in order for this to work.

While at the same time these professional educators are developing a new, online educational system for our children, our parents are adjusting as well. They will become the assistant teachers, tutors and specialists.

The parents will be the one asked to keep the schedule, working with their young children and teenagers to ensure assignments are completed, questions are answered and educational obstacles overcome. More so than ever, for this to be successful the parents must become true partners of the educational system.

No longer can parents sit on the sideline, expect teachers and administrators to cultivate their children alone. Because of this pandemic, and changes to our way of life that comes from extended school closures and additional restrictions, the parents are in it with both feet.

We know the next few weeks will be difficult for some. It is a transition many never expected, but it is one that we all must make work. Our children depend on it. Our society depends on it.

The steps taken by our educational leaders — both in the public schools and our parochial schools — have been monumental in recent days. The steps ahead are even greater.

Our community, our society, cannot afford a lost year, much less months when it comes to the proper education of our children and the moves made recently ensure crucial learning time will not be wasted.

We pray for the successful transition to this online learning system and pray for those who must help us all in navigating through these and other challenges ahead.