The Oak Bluffs planning board will hold a public hearing on March 12 at 5 p.m.

The question of whether to fund the design phase of the high school track and field renovation project is now up to the six Island towns, following an animated school committee discussion Monday.

The regional high school district committee voted 5-4 at an overflow meeting Monday to press ahead with a plan to rebuild the school athletic fields, using artificial turf for the main field.

In a formal presentation, consultant and designer Chris Huntress recommended that a new track include an artificial turf infield.

The question of natural grass versus artificial turf dominated public comment at a meeting called last week to air ongoing plans to overhaul the athletic fields at the regional high school.

Ongoing debate over whether to install artificial turf athletic fields or grass fields at the regional high school dominated the district committee meeting Monday evening.

The Field Fund has begun work at every elementary school on the Vineyard to improve and maintain nontoxic grass fields. This week the fund was honored with an award at the state house.

The regional high school district committee voted Monday night to spend $29,000 to get the ball rolling on renovations to the high school track.

With spring sports about to get underway Monday, improvements on the track and fields at the regional high school have seen little progress.

Negotiations between the regional high school district committee and a group that wants to upgrade and maintain the school playing fields have been fraught with disagreement since June, with key terms of a contract still hanging as of this week.