Board hears options to repair or replace 2016 15-passenger van; repair quote $11,721

Hoke County Schools staff told the Board of Education on March 11 that a district-owned 2016 Ford Transit 15-passenger van has sustained significant engine damage and that the district is weighing whether to repair the vehicle or replace it.

A district staff member said the engine failure appears to be a mechanical malfunction and that a local dealer quoted $11,721.25 to replace the engine. Staff presented replacement quotes from three dealerships for 2024–2025 model 15-passenger vans ranging from $53,641.44 to $56,535; a 2025 Chevrolet Express LS 15-passenger van was quoted at $48,540.55. The presentation listed comparable warranties across the quotes, though staff said they would confirm specific warranty terms.

Board members asked about the van’s regular use and maintenance history. The presenter said a district director had been using the vehicle for staff transport and occasional travel such as airport runs tied to professional development. The board asked staff to research long-term maintenance profiles for the Ford versus the Chevrolet to better understand which model would require less upkeep.

Staff also discussed disposition options for the existing vehicle under the district’s surplus-property policy. The presenter said the board could approve selling the van to a community member or scrapping it through a processor such as OmniSource; staff cautioned the resale or scrap value would likely be small. The transcript does not record any motion or vote on repair or replacement at the March 11 meeting.

The board asked staff to return with additional information on dealer warranties, comparative maintenance data for the candidate models, and clearer estimates of resale or salvage value before any procurement decision.