While some of the projects are visibly under way and others seem less active, Hancock County School is in the midst of construction work at each school site.

The most drastic changes recently have been in Weirton, where a new elementary school is being built.

Project Manager Ron Blatt with Project & Construction Services Inc. said the three elementary schools are consolidating into "one very badly needed" school.

"If you've been to the other schools that are closing, you would see they're in disrepair," Blatt said.

Superintendent Sue Smith said Weirton Heights Elementary is about 86 years old. Neither Weirton Heights nor Broadview or Liberty elementary schools have sprinkler systems, but the new school will have that plus other safety features like security cameras.

The new elementary school is not the school system's only project. School Facilities Director Mark Dziatkowicz, who oversees maintenance workers who prepare the district for the start of the school year, said it's normally a busy time, but this year, the word  "busy" is an understatement.

"In the end it's all going to be worth it -- better facilities and less maintenance. So it will be better for everybody (and) better for the students overall," Dziatkowicz said. "We're currently wrapping up stadium projects at Weir High School and Oak Glen High School. And we had the Field of Dreams project at Oak Glen and the wrestling room at Oak Glen Middle School, and we're beginning work on Allison Elementary and New Manchester Elementary (and) adding Pre-K classrooms and physical education areas."

A rainy winter didn't help construction projects that were already under way, but Dziatkowicz said crews have been fortunate that everything is caught up and they're back on schedule.

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