The Martha’s Vineyard regional high school district committee voted Monday to certify a $19.9 million 2018 budget, a 6.68 per cent increase over last year.

Rising maintenance costs for the ailing facilities at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School will add more expense to the budget next year, school leaders learned this week.

This past week a Distractology trailer has been parked at the regional high school. The trailer is part of a driving simulation test given to students to show how distracted driving can equal deadly driving.

Many Islanders this year have found themselves mired in a debate over the merits of grass versus artificial turf for the high school playing fields. Similar debates have played out across the country.

A popular longtime math teacher at the high school has quietly changed jobs, citing health concerns from the poor condition of facilities at the high school.

Vineyard schools start up again on Tuesday, Sept. 6. The school system expects to welcome 2,158 students to the new year, slightly up from last year which saw 2,117 students in the six public schools. A total of 69 new staff members joined the school system.