ROARING SPRING — The Spring Cove School Board voted 8 to 1 to purchase a new box truck for $66,435 at Monday’s meeting.

Board member Kevin Smith was the only dissenting vote for the vehicle.

At a previous buildings and grounds meeting, supervisor Aaron Barnes said the district van was rusted, experienced mechanical issues and required maintenance repairs.

Before voting, their total capital projects for the 2026-27 school year totaled $330,745, which also included replacing Central High School’s gym backboards for $30,030 and replacing the middle school’s auditorium lighting, phase one of three, for $77,016.

Kevin Smith said he knew the box truck was from 2016, but it only has 72,000 miles. He said they previously spent $3,000 to purchase six tires, batteries and brakes.

“That’s regular maintenance for a truck that size,” he said.

He added that the truck could undergo maintenance instead, adding that he might know someone who could fix the seats for nothing, which was met with a few laughs from the board.

“This truck, if taken care of … will last another three years,” he said.

In opposition, board member Troy Wright said small trips to district schools are terrible for a vehicle, as it’s a rust issue.

Considering that mileage doesn’t affect the condition of a car, he said the box truck is 10 years old, and professionals, such as buildings and grounds supervisor Aaron Barnes, are telling the board that it needs to be functional.

Superintendent Betsy Baker said their box truck must be reliable for the district.

“This is a vehicle we can’t afford to have down because we need it every day,” she said.

The $66,435 figure is before their trade-in value, Baker said, which can range from $10,000 to $15,000.

Spring Cove’s truck driver, Tom, was in the audience at Monday night’s meeting, where he said that the truck’s aluminum side has corroded through the surface, and the lift gate has shifted. The lift gate has been replaced twice over three years.

“It is a truck that is very used, and as they said, it’s relied on heavily by the kitchen, the schools and the custodial staff,” he said.

Activities van approved

The board also voted 6 to 3 to purchase an activities van for $60,026.

Board members Andrea Moses, Samantha Snowberger and Amy Acker-Knisley were the only dissenting votes for the athletic van.

Moses said she believed the van was added to the capital projects list because of her comments at a previous meeting, but she now wants to remove it so the district doesn’t purchase two expensive vehicles at the same time.

“I thought a district van would be a benefit, but I didn’t mean that we had to buy it this year,” she told the board. “I don’t think it’s a necessity, and I think at this point we only need to be looking at what’s necessary.”

Before voting for the box truck, Acker-Knisley said she was fine with taking the activities van off the list and purchasing the box truck.

“That, for me, makes sense,” she said.

Board member Gretchen Bettwy agreed with Acker-Knisley’s statement, as a district van would be a great addition, but they can only budget for one.

“Especially if we’re looking to try and keep taxes low or not raise taxes, probably not possible,” Bettwy said. “But either way, I think the box truck is necessary, that district van — would be nice — but is not necessary right now.”

While also in support of a new box truck, Fisher said the district needs an athletic van, adding that “we’re not doing right by our athletics if we don’t.”

At the end of the meeting, the board approved capital expenditures of $358,775 after voting down an additional $9,000 purchase of outdoor dragon vinyl wrap for the middle school’s windows.

The finance and legal committee is slated to meet at 7 p.m. on April 20.

Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.