The state education department says the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School needs “assistance or intervention,” based on results from standardized tests administered last spring.

Looking to quell a persistent dispute among constituents, the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School committee this week voted to ask for a written legal opinion on the longstanding school district practice of accepting cash donations without requiring identification.

In a 13-page ruling Tuesday, judge Kevin Smith ruled the Oak Bluffs planning board went beyond its authority when it denied the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School’s application for an artificial turf field on the basis of ground water protection.

Throughout the day on Wednesday, public school workers are taking part in campus-specific training sessions on how to respond to critical incidents, such as shootings and chemical spills, at or near their schools.

At a fundraiser at the regional high school Saturday, the Vice President touted her administration's accomplishments before 400 supporters.

The two-year period of validity for the commission’s approval was set to expire August 27 because no work had begun on the project.