The all-Island school committee agreed this week to accept a proposal for comprehensive testing for Island public schools, with the question of how to pay for it still to be determined.

The proposal for testing was first raised weeks ago by Dr. Jeffrey Zack, an emergency room doctor who has been working as a medical adviser for the school’s re-opening process.

The plan, as presented to the all-Island committee Tuesday, recommends screening all faculty and students regularly at the start of each school week, likely using a pool, or group testing approach. The program would also include symptomatic testing for students who fall ill at the schools, or are otherwise flagged for medical attention.

The aggressive testing approach would allow the Island to stay ahead of potential virus outbreaks in the schools, keeping them open for longer and benefiting the health of the Island community at large, Dr. Zack told the committee on Tuesday, according to a taped recording of the meeting.

“We have a unique opportunity here to potentially continue to keep the schools open, keep ourselves from having a start-and-stop type of a situation with the schools, thus providing a more stable learning environment, however we choose to do it,” he said.

The plan recommends the use of a Molecular Test produced by Abbott Laboratories, which returns results in 15 minutes. The test is a cousin of the widely utilized PCR test — used at Test MV — but comes at a significantly lower cost and with faster turn-around times. The Abbott test is less accurate than the PCR, however, and those who test positive must also seek follow-up attention for a formal diagnosis, Dr. Zack explained.

“We expect our tests to be perfect, right, and the truth of the matter is that no test is,” he said. “It’s still going to be better than nothing, which again is what we’re going into the school year with.”

He emphasized that the program’s success will hinge on full participation from all parties entering and exiting the school building.

“For me this kind of an all-or-nothing approach,” he said. “Either you opt in and acquiesce to testing so that you can get into the building or you opt out, and you do remote learning. There really can’t be a mix of the two otherwise it defeats the entire purpose.”

Noting the importance of full participation, superintendent of schools Matthew D’Andrea said that, if approved, the school will be legally able to mandate testing for all students and staff, as long as they provide alternative remote learning options for those who refuse testing.

Dr. Zack estimated a total program cost of $639,920 to procure analyzers and two varieties of test cartridges for each of the Island schools. But the one cost not estimated in the proposal was the administrative cost of staffing and implementing the testing program, as well as any other administrative needs the program might require.

The question of the program’s organizational structure raised concerns from committee members, including Kimberly Kirk, who expressed hesitation at signing onto a plan without adequate information on how it will be run and by whom.

“Until we know what that structure is and how we are a part of that and what it will look like, I’m uncomfortable approving [Dr. Zack] entering into these kinds of negotiations or discussions with donors on our behalf,” said Ms. Kirk, noting the need for more transparency before moving ahead on the plan.

“It raises issues regarding re-entry [and] privacy issues concerning those children. And I just think there’s a huge administrative component to this that has to be very carefully handled so that we’re legally compliant,” she added.

At the close of the meeting, the committee voted to authorize Dr. Zack to move forward with the testing plan and to begin fundraising efforts to cover the cost of the technology. Ms. Kirk cast the lone nay vote.

The committee also voted to recommend that Mr. D’Andrea partner with a public health agency to administer and implement the proposed testing plan.

Continued discussion about the plan was moved to Thursday’s all-Island school meeting, when costs for each district will be debated.