A renovation project at the Chilmark School went slightly over budget this summer, leaving not enough cash on hand to address a new problem that has cropped up: a faulty boiler in the school heating system.

Members of the up-Island school regional district committee discussed the problem at their meeting Monday night.

A project to replace 33 windows and seven doors at the school took place over the summer. The work was expected to cost $100,000 but went over that amount by $22,000 due to unforeseen expenses that involved the state of door frames and additional labor time. That left only about $12,000 in the maintenance account; now approximately $18,000 more is needed to address short-term problems with the boiler and controls.

Committee chairman Robert Lionette called the new boiler an immediate need. “We’re looking at well being of students over the winter,” he said. “That has to be addressed.”

School administrators are working with Nelson Mechanical and South Mountain Company on the heating project. Board member Michael Marcus suggested seeking estimates for the most basic control systems to see if the cost could be lowered.

Mr. Lionette said he would approach the Chilmark selectmen to discuss funding options, and principal Susan Stevens said she would ask for estimates on a rudimentary control system from Nelson Mechanical and another contractor. Schools superintendent Dr. Matthew D’Andrea said he too would explore possible funding solutions. And committee member Jeffrey (Skipper) Manter 3rd said that while Chilmark must shoulder 80 per cent of the cost, West Tisbury voters could possibly be approached at a special town meeting this fall to kick in a small share of the cost.

The boiler is a part of a larger project planned for the coming year to upgrade insulation and air exchange systems at the school.

In other business Monday Mr. D’Andrea reported on informal district enrollment numbers, which show a sharp increase in students at the West Tisbury School. West Tisbury saw 324 students on the first day of school, including 39 kindergartners. By contrast, Chilmark saw a decline in enrollment this year with a total of 49 students and only five kindergartners.

A formal school census is done every year on Oct. 1 in all the public schools.

West Tisbury principal Donna Lowell-Bettencourt said the spike in students at her school was a combination of new families moving into town and students coming from the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School. She predicted possible budget pressures later in the year, especially in the area of special education services.

“One of the things we cut the line close on was [special education],” she said. “It was challenging to meet all the new plans that came in.”

A $396,000 project to rebuild the playground at the West Tisbury School has raised $100,000 in donations. The committee authorized Mrs. Lowell-Bettencourt to seek another $200,000 in funding from Community Preservation Act funds.

The committee agreed to schedule a budget-specific meeting for early November. The next meeting will be held on Oct. 19 at tribal headquarters Aquinnah at 5 p.m. School choice within the two district schools is expected to be a topic for discussion.

An earlier version of this story reported inaccurately on total enrollment at the Chilmark School. The correct number is 49 as appears above; the story that appears in the Friday print edition is incorrect. The Gazette regrets the error.