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While a pyrite remediation project may have some inconveniences for students, faculty, and staff at Oak Glen Middle for a short period of time, it is believed the work will solve a long-standing problem for the school building.
In late March, the Hancock County Board of Education agreed to contract with Lombardi Development, with a bid of $1,740,000, for the project, which is aimed at excavating some of the area near the left, back portion of the school, and installing a sealant to prevent additional expansion of pyrite located under the school.
Some pyrite was removed from the area when the school was under construction more than 20 years ago, but exposure to water is thought to have resulted in the expansion of the mineral, causing instability in part of the foundation.
The first key to getting it complete was the awarding of $987,000 from the West Virginia School Building Authority in December 2023.
Costs were over and above the available funding, leading to the project being rebid and also being included in the bond levy approved by county voters last fall.
Without passage of the levy, this project, which will guarantee the safety of Oak Glen Middle for years to come, would not be possible.
With that, we offer thanks to the voters of Hancock County.
Through passage of the levy, another $800,000 will be made available, closing the gap needed to cover the costs.
Crews are scheduled to be dispatched to the school in early June - right after the school year ends - with work set to take approximately six months. That means work will still be taking place for much of the fall semester.
As we've said, though, it's better to address the issue now than for it to get worse later.