BETHEL — The SAD 44 board this week authorized energy audits of Crescent Park Elementary School and the Telstar high and middle school complex.

Superintendent David Murphy said the board approved the Portland firm Honeywell to do the audits in the next few weeks. Once complete, contingent upon the results, an engineering study will be conducted.

The goal, Murphy said, is to identify an alternative form of energy to heat the two buildings. Crescent Park was built in the 1950s and had additions and renovations in the 1990s. The Telstar complex was built in the late 1960s.

Murphy said the district is looking at a self-funded project. That means the savings from reduced fuel costs would fund the installation of new heating systems. If that doesn’t work out, then the district could take advantage of a Quality Schools construction bond or use district capital funds.

Honeywell recently completed a major $2.5 million air quality project at Telstar. 

In other matters, the board granted permission for up to 40 English students of teacher Valerie Forman to visit Salem, Mass., on Oct. 24. Four chaperons will accompany the students on tours of the House of the Seven Gables and several other sites.

Students have read “The Scarlet Letter” and “The Crucible,” and by experiencing Salem will have a better perspective on the places authors Nathaniel Hawthorne and Arthur Miller wrote about, Forman said in her proposal.

Also on Monday, the board:

* Learned that the fuel tank at Andover Elementary School did not pass a state inspection. It must be removed by next August.

* Accepted the resignation of newly hired Telstar Middle School physical education teacher Brian Hagopian. The position will be reposted.

* Hired Mike Hart as custodian for the Telstar complex.

* Set a school board orientation session for 6:30 p.m. Oct. 8 at Woodstock Elementary School.

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