Month: May 2024
21 inducted into LMS National Junior Honor Society
Liberty Middle School inducted 21 students into the National Junior Honor Society Induction Ceremony on May 13 in the High School Auditorium.
Those inducted were sixth-graders Madison (Montgomery) Allen, Mya Davis, Claire Ferguson, Makayla Fuentes Serapio, Gavin Grant, Aiden Hernandez Mejia, Luna Hulse, Matthew Kolarik, Corinne Lake, Madison LaMantia, Harper Matuszak, Americus Mott, Zalaina Nash, Angelick Rivera, Brycen Smith and Hayden Smith, seventh-graders Alexandra Galeas Osorio, Yoscari Gomez Mejia, Sariah Ocasio and Jacob Pennell and eighth-grader Alonso Yupanqui.
Students are invited to apply for NJHS based on several criteria including scholarship, service, leadership, character and citizenship; the five pillars of the organization. These students have maintained high academic standing of no less than a 92 GPA all year and have held themselves as exemplary leaders, role models and service-minded citizens in the school and greater liberty community, advisers said. These students have demonstrated high potential to be the great leaders of tomorrow and have pledged to uphold the five pillars of the NJHS, to maintain high scholastic standing, to endeavor intelligently and courageously to be a leader, to practice good character and give of themselves freely in service to help improve their community.
During the event several members spoke about what it means to be dedicated to the pillars and how members work together to contribute their interests, talents and skills to improve the school and Liberty community and shared some encouraging words with our students, families and community members.
Music was also provided by NJHS students in orchestra: Sophia Vasko, Olivia Matuszak, Joshua DiBartolo, Adriana Ponce-Agredano, Belle Gandulla, Sophia Duarte, Zackary Alvord, Mariely Medina Orellana, Roger Lynker III and Allison Vasko, directed by Sarah Weber.
After the ceremony, students and families celebrated the occasion with a reception in their honor.
Liberty CSD voters approve $68M school budget proposal
On Tuesday, May 21, voters in the Liberty Central School District approved, 987-69, the district’s $68 million budget proposal for the 2024-25 school year.
“We appreciate Liberty Central School District residents’ continued support and recognition of our efforts to give our students the education they need to pursue their potential and thrive in the future,” Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said. “We are also glad we could do this without increasing the tax levy for the sixth year in a row.”
The $68,034,294 budget funds all current student programs and services, while keeping the tax levy the same as the current year. The budget includes several program expansions that support the district’s five-year strategic plan, including expanding the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) math curriculum to seventh grade, adding Syracuse University Project Advance college credit courses, as well as introducing more computer science and AI-related programs across grades.
The budget also includes the addition of a Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)-certified teacher, creating an administrative athletic director position, and converting two part-time teacher aide positions into one full time teacher aid. An update to the middle school library’s innovation lab is also included.
Voters also re-elected three board of education members to three-year terms on the board. Maureen Crescitelli received 605 votes, Peter Racette received 591 and Pamela Teed Fisk, 595. Three write-in candidates, Miriam Singer, Miriam Breuer and Miriam Heimlich, each received more than 400 votes, with several others receiving one vote each.
LHS National Honor Society inducts 28
The 84th annual LHS National Honor Society Inductions welcomed 28 new members on May 15.
1the Liberty Chapter Number 2314 of the National Honor Society was established in 1940 and to date now has 1,520 students from Liberty High School inducted into the chapter.
Students were not only inducted but also given service awards from the Liberty Chamber of Commerce (Dr. Bodolosky) and the Liberty Elks Club (Melissa DeMarmels and Gene Adolf). LHS Class of 2013 graduate, District 1 Legislator, Majority Leader and Chairman of the Planning and Economic Development Committee Matthew McPhillips was the guest speaker and gave the inductees advice.
Members inducted were: Sheyla Anguisaca Llanos, Cristian Argenal, Carmela Burgio, Addison Bury, Genna DeFrank, Giada DeFrank, Eli Desrochers, Allison Diaz Lopez, Joseph DiBartolo, Damaris Garcia, Lia Guillerme, Camila Hernandez, Jacob Kelly, Kaley Klein, Gianna Lewis, Leonel Malaga Venture, Diego Marcia, Genesis Munoz Valladares, Sierra Norris, William Pennell, Brooke Porter, Cassandra Porter, Alexandra Rivera, Joseph Sarney, Justin Simon, Maylluri Vinocunga Llano, Cameryn Will and Isaiah Young.
The NHS Slideshow can be seen here.
Third-quarter LHS Stellar Students honored
The Stellar Student Awards were revived by Liberty High School Building Leadership Team to recognize students who for the quarter were referral-free, had no unexcused late entries, and had a 75 or above quarter average with no failures or incompletes. Students celebrated their accomplishments with ice cream parties, compliments of donations from ShopRite of Liberty, on May 6 and 7.
The following students were honored:
12th grade
Jumana Abu Al Ghanam, Alejandra Barquero Lopez, Mia Barragan, Noellia Cruz Cruz, Christopher Garzon, Valle Claudia Herzog, Zoe Kip, Samuel Olivares-Reyes, Rocio Panama, Jacob Ross, Grace Torres, Irvin Valente Guzman, Cristian Vargas Martin, Maylluri Vinocunga Llano, Alexia Viracocha, Winsley Viracocha and Benjamin Visconti.
11th grade
Quinn Allen, Guillermo Arauz Gonzalez, Kaitlyn Bodolosky, Andres Castillo Hernandez, Eugene Davis-Andino, Colin Doeinck, James Fancher, Lianna Gissentaner , Brayan Hernandez Ballen, Camila Hernandez, Nora Liddle, Erick Morales Banegas, Adamaris Navarro-Leon, Sierra Norris, Mason Smith, Austin Werlau and Rita Zheng.
10th grade
Brooke Bull, Carmela Burgio, Addison Bury, Runxian Chen, Jake Cross, Elizabeth Cruz Cruz, Joshua Decker Jr., Allisson Diaz Lopez, Joseph DiBartolo, Faith Fitzgerald, Christopher Flores Osorto, Sydania Foster,Damaris Garcia, Awky Guaillas Quizhpe, Zane Kip, DaShaun Loyce, Arwyn Lucero-Bonilla, Angelina Magie, Leonel Malaga Ventura, Angel Maldonado, Melanie Moreno Velasquez, William Pennell, Brooke Porter, Cassandra Porter, Jose Rivera, Randy Romero-Bello, Ryan Romero-Bello, Tayler Schwartz, Jaidon Simmons, Justin Simon and Elijah Warren.
Ninth grade
Zackary Alvord, Gianino Amendola, Jill Baumander, Kent Clarke, Riley Cox, Liliana Crespo, Alan Cruz, Colin Dole, Dung Duong, LeonJahnae Skye Fountain, Austin Frunzi, Yamilet Garcia Gonzalez, Rahel Garrod, Mayrelis Gonzalez Ramirez, Diana Guallpa, Jhosmery Jadan Pangolo, Audrey Krum,Nester Leon Aldana, Roger Lynker lll, Jeremiah McLeod, Mariely Medina Orellana, Katherine Panama Guaillazaca, Lucio Ponce Vazquez, Riley Santiago, Jordan Smith, Lige Young and Sebastian Yupanqui.
Capital project schedule set
Construction expected to begin in the fall
While no dirt has been moved nor a sledge hammer yet swung, work on the Capital Project approved by Liberty Central School District voters in January is moving forward.
After speaking with administrators and staff who will be impacted by the work, a basic schedule of the work has been created. The plan was recently presented to the board of education.
Maintenance Building
The maintenance building structure for the Building and Grounds Department, which has already been approved by the state Education Department following the 2021 project vote, is expected to go to bid this summer and early fall, with construction anticipated to begin in the fall and be completed by late summer 2025.
Phase 1
The next phase will be broken into three sections, with all expected to be submitted for SED approval in July, and bidding to be in February and March 2025.
- Phase 1A will include exterior stair replacement and emergency generator replacement at the high school; interior door replacement at the middle school, and hazardous flooring abatement and replacement at the elementary school. The work at the athletics field is also in the phase. That will include the synthetic turf field installation, running track and field events upgrades, scoreboard, public address system and bleacher replacement, the addition of site and athletic lighting, sidewalk replacement, and replacement of the press box with a pre-engineered metal building. Construction of this phase is anticipated to take place spring 2025 through spring 2026.
- Phase 1B will be the boiler replacement in the Elementary School, with construction expected to take place in summer 2025.
- Phase 1C will be the installation of new emergency generators in the middle school and district office and the replacement of electrical distribution panels of the middle school. Construction of this phase is expected in summer 2026.
Phase 2
The second phase of the project will be at the elementary school, with the boiler conversion (steam to hot water) completed, gymnasium ventilation added, HVAC controls upgraded, unit ventilators installed and the wood flooring in classrooms replaced. The project is expected to be submitted for approval to the NYSED in September with bidding anticipated in May or June 2025 and construction to be completed in summer 2026.
Phase 3
The final phase will include renovations to the 300 wing and cafeteria, as well as work needed to convert the former maintenance space into the innovation lab, at the high school. The third phase will also include HVAC controls upgrades at the high school and middle school, new carbon monoxide systems in all three school buildings and the district office, new emergency lighting and repairs for the transformer and chiller at the middle school, and roof fascia repairs and gymnasium seating handrail upgrades at the elementary school. The final phase is expected to be submitted to NYSED for approval in January 2025, with bidding anticipated to follow in November and December 2025. Construction is expected to take place during the summers of 2026 and 2027.
The full capital project is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
The presentation can be seen at https://go.boarddocs.com/ny/liberty/Board.nsf/files/D49JCW4C71CF/$file/CS%20Arch%20Presentation%20April%2016%2C%202024.pdf
LHS names more than 200 to honor rolls for third marking period
The following students were named to the third marking period honor rolls at Liberty High School. High honor roll students must have attained a marking period average of 89.5 or better and have no failing or incomplete grades. Honor roll students must have attained a marking period average of 84.5 or better and have no failing or incomplete grades.
12th grade
High honor: Jumana Abu Al Ghanam, Mia Barragan, Kevin Cando, Brittany Cardenas, Shannon Ciardo, Phoenix Cordero, Noellia Cruz Cruz, Nevaeh Davis, Morgan DeGraw, Lorna DeWitt, Jayla Edwards, Christopher Garzon Valle, Hannah Gill, Claudia Herzog, Julia Juron, Liliana Ines Leon, Zoe Kip, Aylin Leon Martinez, Maytte Morales-Romero, Josue Nunura Galan, Samuel Olivares-Reyes, David Philips, Elaina-Louise Ramirez, Alesandra Rivera, Alexandra Rivera, Jacob Ross, Rozlyn Schauerhamer, Jeremy Simon, Erin Skinner, Kelvin Turcios Mejia, Maylluri Vinocunga Llano, Benjamin Visconti and Sincere Warren.
Honor: Maria Abreu, Alejandra Barquero Lopez, Alexia Caiza Viracocha, Winsley Caiza Viracocha, Carlos Campos-Castro, Yuridia Cristino Lopez, Chase Fry, Brooke Hessinger, Adam Houser, Omar Huerta, Joaquin Isler Diaz, Cyah Jackson, Madeline Kelly, Jordy Lopez Olivarez, Melany Manzanares Orellana, Dania Maradiaga, Natalie Morales, Adriana Moran Monterrosa, Lesly Panama, Jake Parks, Riley Rivera, Stefany Sandoval, Steve Santin Flores, Grace Emily Torres, Cristian Vargas Martin and Aiden Yaun.
11th grade
High honor: Quinn Allen, Endya Alvarez, Kaitlyn Bodolosky, Noah Call, Cathy Delgado-Flores, James Dworetsky, Sara Fajardo Reyes, Sophia Ferguson, Haley Gill, Camila Hernandez, Jordan Hewlett, Joshua Kratz, Carla Lara Fernandez, Kimberlin Malaga Gonzalez, Colin Mangan, Diego Marcia Paz, Matthew McKoy, Owen Moore, Sierra Norris, Joshuaj Reyes Escobedo, Mason Lewis Smith, Hannah Grace Wormuth and Rita Zheng.
Honor: Guillermo Arauz Gonzalez, Andres Castillo Hernandez, Abdi Coy Pop, Colin Doeinck, Olivia Dworetsky, Jose Galeas Aguilar, Lianna Gissentaner, Wyatt Green, Sandra Hanofee, Alex Kearney, Jack Thomas Krum, Kenisha Amber Ledoux, Matthew Lutz, Jameel D. McCline, Liam Foley Parks, Jose G. Perez Sanchez, Megan Schmidt, Brianna Kayla Smith, Austin T. Werlau, Mykenzi M. Williams and Kyra L. Wingert.
10th grade
High honor: Sheyla Anguisaca-Llanos, Cristian Argenal, Brooke Bull, Carmela Burgio, Addison Bury, Runxian Chen, Genna DeFrank, Giada DeFrank, Eli Desrochers, Allisson Diaz Lopez, Joseph DiBartolo, Faith Fitzgerald, Sydania Foster, Damaris Garcia, Lia Guillerme, Jacob Kelly, Kaley Klein, Gianna Lewis, Angelina Magie, Leonel Malaga Ventura, Yuritzy Martinez Ramirez, Serenity Moore, Genesis Munoz Valladares, Soleil Ocasio-Lombardi, William Pennell, Brooke Porter, Cassandra Porter, Phillo Romero, Justin Simon, Andreas Stephens, Elijah A. Warren and Cameryn Will.
Honor: Maliea Agapito, Naiara Alvarado Piedy, Aubrey Botsford, Jake Cross, Marcus Curry, Cameron Degroat, Christopher DiBartolo, Zane Kip, Belen Leon Martinez, Gustavo Leon, DaShaun Jordan Loyce, Arwyn Lucero-Bonilla, Angel Maldonado, Brenna Mangan, Emely Maradiaga Martinez, Melanie Moreno Velasquez, Scarlet Perez, Jose Rivera, Randy Romero-Bello, Joseph Sarney, Tayler Schwartz, Jaidon Simmons, Ashley Szuba, Isabella Wagner, Angela Wheeler, Jada Williams, Haven Wright and Isaiah Young.
Ninth grade
High honor: Brayan Abrego Medina, Zackary Alvord, Jehu Baldes Lara, Jill Baumander, Eyanna Castro, Olivia Corrigan, Liliana Crespo, LeonJahnae Fountain, Kylie Fuller, Yamilet Garcia Gonzalez, Carlos Garzon Cruz, Peyton Hadjstylianos, Jhosmery Jadan Pangolo, Misael Juarez Perez, Peyton Klein, Roger Lynker III, Jeremiah McLeod, Mariely Medina Orellana, Angele Osorio Ramirez, Katherine Panama Guaillazaca, Giselle Perez Sanchez, Lucio Ponce Vazquez, Jordan Smith, Amy Szuba, Allison Vasko and Sebastian Yupanqui.
Honor: Gianino Amendola, Sophia Avellino, Isabella Caycho, Kent Clarke, Jeffery Cobbs Jr, Kyla Coker, Riley Cox, Alan Cruz, Colin Dole, Dung Duong, Austin Frunzi, Diana Guallpa, Bartlomiej Klys, Audrey Krum, Orchid Langlois, Nester Leon Aldana, Marvin Lucero Ramirez, Katherine Maldonado, Bridgette Mateo Cruz, Jose Moreno Reyes, Elizabeth Navarrete, Savannah Pagan Van Wagner, Riley Santiago, Madelynn Stewart, Jeronimo Velez Osorio and Giuliana Wagner.