BETHEL — The SAD 44 board voted 12-2 Monday night to move forward with a plan to upgrade air quality and energy efficiency for the Telstar Middle/High School on Route 26.

Superintendent David Murphy said the action means that residents of the five member towns will decide Nov. 6 whether to spend up to $2.5 million for the work.

The district has $1.2 million in a capital reserve account for the project. The remainder of up to $1.3 million will come from a federal Quality Schools Construction Bond at no interest for 10 or 20 years.

If the district does not use the approved loan by the end of the year, it will revert to the lending agency.

Bethel board member Frank Del Duca and Andover member Keith Smith voted against moving the project forward.

A special meeting was set for 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 1, for the board to sign the warrants for the project.

Murphy said the energy/ventilation project, if approved, would introduce more fresh air into the complex, as well as make lighting, refrigeration, roof and other upgrades. He said little has been done to the school since it was built more than 40 years ago.

“This would button up the building,” he said.

Also, if the project is approved, an engineering study would be conducted as a preliminary action for seeking later voter approval for installation of a wood pellet heating system.

Such a system, which could cost as much as $750,000, would save the district a significant amount of money. The complex is heated with oil.

Murphy believes another low- or no-interest loan for installation of a new heating system would likely be available through the Quality Schools Construction Bond.

In other matters, the district received a letter from the town of Andover stating that its residents have approved setting up a committee to negotiate withdrawal from the district. Once the four-person committee is selected, which is expected to be sometime later this week, SAD 44 board Chairman Lainey Cross will call the first official meeting of the committee.