UNDERWAY – Crews with Lombardi Development are on site at Oak Glen Middle School, beginning preparations for the pyrite remediation project. -- Craig Howell

NEW CUMBERLAND — The long-awaited pyrite remediation projects at Oak Glen Middle School has officially begun.

According to Kasey Arnott, director of facilities and maintenance, crews with Lombardi Development arrived on the campus June 9 to begin site preparation and staging, with some minor demolition in the affected areas of the school.

“Everything is moving along,” Arnott reported during Monday’s meeting of the Hancock County Board of Education, held in the media center of Oak Glen High School.

The school board awarded the pyrite contract to Lombardi in March, at a cost of $1,740,000. Funds for the project will include $987,000 awarded in December 2023 by the West Virginia School Building Authority, with approximately $800,000 provided through the new bond levy approved by county voters last fall.

The project is needed because of the expansion of pyrite located under the school, causing it to push upward and resulting in issues with the building’s foundation. Work is focused on a portion of the rear of the building which includes the school’s band room and locker room areas.

Arnott noted demolition work will continue over the next several days, before they can move into the major portions of the project.

“They’ve had a crew of about six or seven guys every day,” Arnott said.

School officials previously anticipated the remediation, which will include the installation of a seal over any remaining pyrite to prevent it from being exposed to any additional water or air, would take six months to complete.

School board President Chris Gillette asked if Lombardi has insurance for the project, with Arnott confirming they are covered.

In other business Monday, the school board went into executive session for approximately 95 minutes for personnel matters, including the annual evaluation of Superintendent Dan Enich, with board Vice President Ed Fields reporting the board feels Enich has “exceeded standards” in the goals set for him.

The board also approved the recommendation to hire T.J. Haught as the new head basketball coach for Weir High School, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, by a 4-0 vote. Board member Jim Horstman recused himself from the vote as his son had been a candidate for the post.

The board is scheduling a special meeting for noon on June 30.