NEW CUMBERLAND – With their academic year set to begin next week, officials with Hancock County Schools are working to put the finishing touches on several improvement projects undertaken during the summer.

During Monday’s meeting of the Hancock County Board of Education, Superintendent Dan Enich offered a reminder that teachers are set to report for their first day of work on Aug. 18, with students set to begin classes Aug. 22.

Enich also noted, while students’ first day is on a Friday, it will be a full day of classes, with no early dismissal.

In the meantime, several ongoing projects are progressing, with some approaching completion.

“We have a lot of projects going on,” Enich said.

Among those has been the paving and striping of several parking areas at the county’s school facilities, with the lots at Oak Glen and Weir High either finished or set to be finished this week.

Kasey Arnott, director of facilities and maintenance, noted the installation of new guardrail at Weir High also is set for this week, with Transportation Director Mark Dziatkowicz reporting work on the lot at the Transportation garage is close to completion.

The parking lot at Weirton Elementary has been sealed and restriped, with officials announcing the establishment of three 15-minute visitor parking spots near the school building. Enich noted this was done in response to officials often seeing individuals park at other locations and walking to the school to pick up or drop off a student or materials.

“The parents and grandparents don’t have to struggle,” he said.

Enich also reported the district continues to work on plans for the establishment of a second access point from Pennsylvania Avenue to the parking area.

The pyrite remediation project continues at Oak Glen Middle, reported Arnott, who explained flooring at the targeted area of the school had been removed, with earth underneath dug up and a sealant installed to help prevent further problems.

“Pretty soon, it’s going to be ready for pouring the floor,” Arnott said.

Officials noted all of the projects were included in the proposal for the new bond levy approved by voters last fall.

One project which was not included in the levy was repairs following a water line break which affected by Weir Middle and Weir High recently. Officials credited Safety Coordinator Gerard Spencer with discovering the issue, after witnessing water forming on floors in the high school, and alerting the necessary crews.

Enich said the line break was at the middle school, with water traveling through a tunnel system to the high school.