In a break with tradition, graduates from the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School will wear the same color graduation gowns in June regardless of gender. Until now young women graduates have worn white gowns and young men wore purple.

Principal Sara Dingledy told the high school district committee Monday night that administrators, students and parents arrived at the decision as they considered the new anti-bias policy.

“Per the anti-bias policy that was passed last year, [there] is a reevaluation of certain gender-based practices that we have, including graduation gown color,” Ms. Dingledy said.

Last January, the all-Island school committee voted to include language protecting Island students from discrimination on the basis of gender identity and expression in their school policy. With that policy in mind, some were concerned that being asked to choose a gender-based gown color could be alienating for students who are not cisgender.

School administrators have endeavored to include students in the discussion of possible changes to graduation attire in recent months, including through small group discussions and online surveys. In an appearance on the students’ weekly video update program on school’s website, Ms. Dingledy said she would take student comments seriously.

“The administration is looking to build an inclusive community, and when we move forward and make changes, we’re always wrestling with traditions versus what we believe is the right thing to do moving forward,” she explains in the video.

Ms. Dingledy told the committee the school advisory council (SAC), a group made up of parents, faculty and community members, had ultimately made the decision. She said they based their choice on research and student input.

“We’ve undertaken a long discussion of this . . . We brought the anecdotal and data-based results from that discussion to SAC, and SAC agreed to move forward with eliminating the gender-based separation that we have,” the principal said.

The color of the gowns has not been specified yet.

Ms. Dingledy added that sartorial changes for graduating members of the National Honor Society are likely forthcoming, as those garments are also gender-based.

In other business, English language learning program director Leah Palmer and superintendent of schools Matthew D’Andrea told the committee they plan to offer a certification program for teachers on the Island to keep up with growing demand. The population of students who need English language learning support has quadrupled since 2012. Now, there are more than 300 students in the program.

“It’s a great opportunity for our teachers to develop their ELL teaching skills and to advance their careers and provide us with teachers in an area that has been a challenging area to fill,” Mr. D’Andrea said.

The committee discussed how best to move forward in keeping the community apprised of the track and sports fields renovation. Earlier this month, they voted to appropriate $350,000 in reserve funds to continue design work for the first phase of the project. At issue on Monday was when to hold another public presentation so designer Chris Huntress could share his recommendations with the community.

Mr. Huntress is recommending a realigned combined track and football field complex fronting the Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road. He suggested a synthetic turf infield for that part of the design. Video of Mr. Huntress’s recent presentation to the committee is available on MVTV here: http://www.mvtv.org/video-on-demand-castus/.

The committee decided to ask Mr. Huntress to return to present his recommendations to the full committee on Jan. 23.

The committee also voted to accept several donations, including $15,000 from the Katherine Goodman Foundation for the school’s theatre arts program, and some $4,700 in mini-grants for teachers from the Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank.