Liberty CSD cuts ribbon on $35.8 million capital project

With the snip of a ribbon, Liberty Central School District recently marked the completion of the $35.8 million capital project approved by voters in 2007. Community members can tour the newly renovated facilities during an open house on Wednesday, Dec. 7, at 6 p.m.

Celebrating a Milestone

The capital project celebration began with a breakfast reception, a slide show and musical performances by orchestra director Scott Glasser and senior Sydney Goldstein. The Liberty High School Honors Band, under the direction of Dan McConnell, performed as well. Superintendent Michael Vanyo served as the master of ceremonies, and other speakers included State Sen. John J. Bonacic, Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, Liberty Board of Education President Daniel Parkhurst and Principal Jack Strassman. “The building project will effectively assist our students to compete in the 21st century,” Strassman reflected.

Students took part in the celebration as well, including Joshua Lieberman, Katherine Heinle, Kristen Niemann, Gabriela Quintanilla, Brendan Siegel, and Kane Sauchuk, who all helped with a special ribbon cutting (above).

Seeing the Results

The completed capital project included a variety of improvements, with perhaps the most visible being the new library/ media center that was the site of the ribbon cutting ceremony. Its unique design makes it a “net zero building” with regard to energy usage, the only known such facility in the state. Other renovations included a new covered walkway, foyer and main office at the high school. Locker rooms, bathrooms and six science classrooms were also renovated.

At the elementary school, improvements included the addition of eight new classrooms, a cafeteria, a kitchen and a drop-off loop at the front of the building; an expanded playground; façade preservation; renovated offices and bathrooms; and replacing windows and roofing. Those finished spaces bring to a close what the superintendent has called “phase 1” of an ongoing facilities improvement plan. Last May, voters approved of the creation of a capital reserve fund, which allows the district to set aside excess revenues or unspent appropriations at the end of each school year to address facilities issues not included in the most recent project.

Construction By the Numbers:

- 285 tons of steel were used at both the elementary and high schools. 42,000 square feet of metal decking was also used.

- At the elementary school, there were approximately 52,000 cubic yards of “cut and fill” removed. This is the soil, rocks and earth that was dug out to make way for the parking lot, building additions and retaining wall.

- July and August of 2010 saw the most construction workers on-site at one time. There were 94 crew members working together to get the school prepared for the first day of the 2010-11 school year.

- 206,000 bricks were used at both the elementary and high schools (142,000 at LES; 64,000 at LHS) and 56,000 concrete blocks were used (35,000 at LES; 21,000 at LHS).

Click HERE to see more pictures of the Liberty CSD Ribbon Cutting Ceremony