Yellow Springs brings back mask mandate

Village officials: Move a response to rise of delta variant transmission.

Village declares emergency and resumes virtual meetings for council and board of zoning approval business.

YELLOW SPRINGS — The Village of Yellow Springs reinstated their mask mandate indoors in their central business district and in their government-owned buildings during an emergency village council meeting on Monday night.

Yellow Springs declared an emergency and also resumed virtual meetings for village council and board of zoning approval meetings.

The village said the decision was based on the rising rate of transmission due to the delta variant in Greene County and concern for the health and safety for those in the village.

“This is a constantly changing situation that we have to be on top of,” said Brian Housh, the president of Yellow Springs village council.

Housh said he hoped villagers appreciated that the village has been on top of safety measures.

Housh also said that while in June and July the council heard from the village that having a personal choice around masking was working, in the last few days, more people have approached council saying that a mask mandate should be reinstated.

Yellow Springs village council

and high school. The district will vacate Possum, Rockway and Reid schools, and share plans later this year for the future of those sites.

Voters approved a $37 million bond issue in August 2017 to build a new elementary school and renovate the middle/high school. The bond issue was for 5.3 mills for 37 years and will cost the owner of a $100,000 home a little more than $15 a month. The state will cover about 30%, or $15.6 million, of the cost of the project.

The 122,000-square-foot elementary building features modern classroom learning environments, updated instructional technology, collaborative learning areas, learning spaces, safety features such as a secure entry vestibule, an advanced security camera system, communication systems, and the ability to secure portions of the building if needed, the release stated. The middle/high school renovation included updates to all aspects of the facility such as air conditioning, electrical, plumbing, replaced furnishings, updated classrooms, renovated gyms with new seating, and updated security features.