No decisions have been made as to whether students will need to wear masks in the fall or what other protocols may need to be followed, School Committee Chair Dr. Shannon Jenkins said at the June 28 Dartmouth School Committee meeting.

It’s too soon yet to make a determination, she said. “We’re going to follow the guidance,’’ she said.

One person who will provide that guidance, committee members said, will be the town’s Director of Public Health Christopher Michaud. 

Unknowns still remain about the new school year, Michaud said, which starts in about 60 days. Although it may feel like longer, the pandemic only began about 19 months ago and the vaccine has been available for about seven months, he reminded the committee.

“This is still a frontier,’’ he said. “We need to wait and see what the summer holds.’’

Dartmouth reported one Covid case two weeks ago and none last week, he said. “Transmission has been low,’’ he said.

The committee honored Michaud with a plaque to thank him for his “exemplary service, collaboration and patience’’ during the pandemic.

“We’ll be leaning on you again when we look to the fall,’’ committee member Mary Waite said.

Committee members said Michaud worked closely with the school department to make the best possible decisions to keep students and staff safe.

“I want to thank you and your staff for guiding us through this pandemic,’’ committee member John Nunes said.

As pandemic conditions ease and conditions return to normal, people may experience a different kind of stress, Michaud said.

For more than a year, he said, many people “felt like Covid was their only job.’’ As people adjust once again to their previous routines, in some cases “a new [type of] stress sets in.’’

Reaching out is vital, he said.

“This has been hard on a lot of people,’’ he said. “Don’t be afraid to talk about stress.’’