By appearances, war broke out last week. But cool heads can still win out.

We speak not of the situation with Russia and Georgia. That will need international intervenors.

We speak of the situation surrounding East Waco’s G.L. Wiley Middle School, where we as a community can still make things right.

It won’t happen before the start of school. Wiley’s students are bound for G.W. Carver Academy, Cesar Chavez Middle and Brazos Middle.

In the case of the closing of Wiley, though supporters have threatened to sue the school district, County Commissioner Lester Gibson did the right thing by discouraging families from boycotting the first day of school.

Instead, he said, “We’re going to be involved and ensure the transition of those children is going to be handled properly.” Amen.

Pending judicial intervention, Wiley is on the shelf. But as school board president David Schleicher said, this needn’t be the end of it.

Once the board voted to close the school, Schleicher announced creation of a committee to study how to put the school to best use.

That conceivably could include its revival as a middle school. It could include restructuring as a multi-level elementary-middle Montessori school like Lake Waco Montessori.

Wiley could be an extension of A.J. Moore Academy, the high school magnet. In that context it could tap the expertise of Texas State Technical College, Baylor University and McLennan Community College.

More importantly it could tap the good will of the community, assuming members of the community feel they will be heard.

Waco must find a use for this symbolism-drenched building. Otherwise, it will leave a mini-Paul Quinn hole along East Waco Drive. And we agree with residents who said that a community center at the location won’t do. The city already has wrapped around the Quinn Campus with a multipurpose center and improvements at Doris Miller Y.

One thing WISD should do seriously is consider the power of magnetism as employed at G.W. Carver, Lake Waco Montessori, Hillcrest Professional Development School, Alta Vista Montessori and A.J. Moore. Put together programs that appeal to all and make it work.

Though the closing of Wiley has brought discord, the future of Wiley brings opportunity, and Waco ISD should commit itself to that future.