NEW CUMBERLAND — Hancock County Schools officials discussed several ongoing construction and maintenance projects taking place in the district during Monday’s board of education meeting, including addressing issues with heat at one of the county’s high schools.

Superintendent Dan Enich indicated he had received several calls and messages about cold temperatures at Weir High School in recent weeks, with he and Kasey Arnot, the district director of facilities and maintenance, indicating there was a bad water flow sensor on the heating system.

“We had to call in an outside contractor,” Arnott said, noting it took a couple of days to address the issue.

The officials said it was not a widespread issue throughout the school.

“There were a few rooms that may have been colder,” Arnott said.

The Weirton Daily Times received two messages earlier this month concerning the heating issues, including one from an individual claiming to be a student, who said they were told the boiler was down. The student questioned why the school was still open if heating wasn’t available.

Another message noted similar claims from a relative they said attends the high school.

Also at Weir High, Arnott reported the relocation of Hancock County Schools’ Alternative Learning Center is progressing.

“We’re moving the ALC to Weir High, in the old wrestling room,” he said, indicating work should be completed within the next few weeks.

The ALC was established to provide educational opportunities for students with social, behavioral or disciplinary challenges which may lead to them being unable to participate in a traditional classroom setting.

It currently is in a building in downtown Weirton.

In the northern portions of the county, Arnott reported the pyrite remediation project at Oak Glen Middle School is moving forward, and may be completed earlier than anticipated.

Crews with Lombardi Development have been on the school’s campus since June, working on the project which is focused on an area in the rear of the building which includes the band room and some locker areas. Pyrite located under the school has been expanding, causing it to push upward against the foundation of the school in the affected area.

It is being funded through $987,000 awarded in December 2023 by the West Virginia School Building Authority and approximately $800,000 from the bond levy approved by voters last year.