Summer has just begun, but the LCSD Reopening Team – made up of administrators, teachers staff members, board of education members, school resource officers, parents and students – has been meeting regularly to prepare for the start of the 2020-21 school year.

The Reopening Team has met several times to discuss the various aspects of reopening Liberty’s schools, including possible scenarios, transportation, and, most importantly, how to best keep staff and students healthy and safe while providing the most complete educational program possible. The result is the Liberty Central School District 2020-21 Reopening Plan: Reopening with Liberty Pride. 

The plan will continue to be updated throughout the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, many unknowns remain; the COVID-19 pandemic is not resolved and many mandated health and safety protocols, including masks, social distancing, and other measures, will very likely still be in place come September.

The Liberty Central School District is seeking input from parents, caregivers, students, staff and community members regarding the 2020-21 school year.

Please take a few minutes and complete The Liberty Central School District Reopening Survey before Wednesday, July 22.

Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) is a new crisis response nutrition program created to help ease the financial strain that families are experiencing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The program provides food benefits to approximately 2.1 million children across New York who lost access to free or reduced-price school meals due to school closures.

Benefits will be loaded on a new or existing EBT card. You can still receive “grab and go” meals during school closures and summer vacation.

Every eligible family, regardless of income or immigration status, will receive $420 in P-EBT food benefits per eligible child. There is no application required. P-EBT does not affect eligibility for other benefits or public charge status. Families will receive benefits between June and early August.

You can learn more about the P-EBT program on the New York State SNAP-COVID-19 Information website.

Summer has just begun, but the LCSD Reopening Team – made up of administrators, teachers staff members, board of education members, school resource officers, parents and students – has been meeting regularly to prepare for the start of the 2020-21 school year.

The Reopening Team has met three times to discuss the various aspects of reopening Liberty’s schools, including possible scenarios, transportation, and, most importantly, how to best keep staff and students healthy and safe while providing the most complete educational program possible. The committee will meet again July 23.

The decision-making process will include ample input from the Liberty community; the district will host a virtual community forum to discuss reopening options (tentatively set for 7 p.m. July 28), and a community survey will be conducted.

Meanwhile, many unknowns remain – the COVID-19 pandemic is not resolved and many mandated health and safety protocols, including masks, social distancing, and other measures, will very likely still be in place come September.

New York State Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has announced that a decision about the fall reopening of schools will be announced during the first week of August. State officials are currently consulting with stakeholders on guidance. All state school districts must submit their individual reopening plans to the state by July 31.