CHINA -- Voters Tuesday approved borrowing $525,000 through the state education department's revolving renovation fund for air quality improvements at China Middle School.

But it was close -- not the final tally, which was 178 in favor and 20 opposed, but whether 191 voters would turn out on a rainy day to meet the quorum requirement.

For the last 45 minutes before polls closed at 8 p.m., a random group of residents, mostly parents of China Elementary School students, stood in the Town Office lobby with cell phones calling everyone they could think of who might be induced to come and vote.

The effort worked: The quorum was met by 7:55 and ultimately exceeded by seven voters.

Of the total amount to be borrowed, about 70 percent will be forgiven by the state. China will repay the remaining $157,657 over 10 years at no interest.

School Union 52 Director of Business and Assistant Superintendent Gary Smith said the work will be done by Honeywell, since it is related to energy efficiency improvements the firm is already engaged in.

The vote was held Tuesday as a special election, rather than combined with June 10 state balloting, because a lot of ductwork needs to be fabricated specifically for the project.

Smith is optimistic the ducts will be ready for installation this summer and the project can be completed before school reopens in late August.