Hurleyville Performing Arts Center invites Liberty families to celebrate special events in February with the arts organization

On Saturday, Feb. 8, HPAC will host a Someone Special Valentine’s Dance.
Attendees are invited to bring their favorite someone — a parent, sibling, grandparent, best friend — to HPAC at 219 Main St. in Hurleyville for an evening of music and dancing.

Light refreshments will be served and all ages are welcome.

The event will begin at 6 p.m. and the cost is $10 per person, with those 5 and younger admitted free.

On Saturday, Feb. 15, there will be a free community viewing of “The Six Triple Eight” in honor of Black History Month. The movie tells the story of the only all-Black, all-female battalion deployed overseas during World War II.

“Discover their courage, resilience and vital contributions to history as we honor these unsung heroes,” the flyer announced the event reads.

For more information on either event, call 845-985-4722, email info@hpacny.org or visit hpacny.org.

The capital project, approved by Liberty Central School District voters in January 2024, is moving forward, as the district awaits state Education Department approval of its plans.

In July, the district replaced architecture and engineering firm CSArch with LAN Associates.

Following testing and redesign of some aspects of the project, the plans were finalized in November and submitted to SED on Dec. 13. The district expects an update on approval from SED in February and anticipates final SED approval in April.

Once the SED approval is received, the projects will go out to bid, with bids reviewed and awarded by the Board of Education, likely in the spring.

Construction on the maintenance building was initially expected to begin in fall of 2024, with additional phases of the plan expected to begin in the late spring 2025. Because of required testing and changes in the design of the maintenance building, construction was delayed. Construction of the first phase of the capital project, which now includes construction of the maintenance building; athletic facility improvements, including the installation of a new synthetic turf field, track and field improvements, installation of a grandstand and press box, and installation of new athletic field lighting; upgrades to the HVAC controls at the middle and high school; upgrades to the carbon monoxide alarm system and replacement of exterior stairs at the high school; and replacements of some interior doors at the middle school, is now expected to begin in early summer.

Dear Liberty families,

I am proud of our diverse community here at Liberty Central School District. Every one of you brings a unique perspective to our district that enriches us all.

I understand that some in our community may be concerned about changes that may occur in the coming weeks and months with a new administration.

We just want you all to know that we are committed to providing all of our students a quality education. As part of the commitment, we embrace the Parent Bill of Rights for New York State’s English Language Learners.

The document guarantees access to free public education in the school district where a student lives, regardless of the immigration status of the parent/guardian or student and the language that the family speaks. It also allows for families to enroll students without submitting paperwork that may reveal immigration status. The document also makes provisions for providing interpreters, a bilingual education and more. For more information, you can call the ELL Parent Hotline at 1-800-469-8224, email nysparenthotline@nyu.edu or mail New York State Education Department, Office of Bilingual Education & World Languages, 55 Hanson Place, Room 594, Brooklyn, NY 11217.

We also understand our rights and responsibilities in protecting and helping all of our students.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, the state Office of Attorney General and the state Education Department also recently issued guidance and reminders regarding the educational rights of immigrant families and the responsibilities of school districts in regard to bullying and harassment, law enforcement actions, detainment and deportation of family members. The document also listed numerous resources available to families. The full document is available on the SED website here.

It is important for us to educate our students and their families, beyond the classroom, so they can learn and grow here in Liberty.

To that end, I want to make you aware of an upcoming event to which Liberty families are invited. The New York Immigration Coalition will present a workshop on immigrant rights from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24, at Fallsburg Central School District’s Benjamin Cosor Elementary School Cafeteria at 15 Old Falls Road in Fallsburg.

We are also updating our English as a New Language webpage to provide more resources.

Please reach out to our Student Services and School Counseling/Guidance Offices for more information and resources, and as always, if you have questions, please email questions@libertyk12.org.

Sincerely,

Dr. Patrick Sullivan
Superintendent

The next Board of Education meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, in the HS Media Center. The board anticipates to enter into executive session (not open to the public) immediately.  The regular portion of the meeting, open to the public, is expected to resume at 6 p.m.

The agenda will be available on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at Board Docs.

Liberty Public Library will host a Family Movie Afternoon, featuring “Harold and The Purple Crayon,” at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1.

All families are welcome for the free move and popcorn. An adult must stay with children younger than 12.

The Liberty Public Library is at 189 N. Main St., in front of Liberty Elementary School, in Liberty. For more information, call 845-292-6070 or visit www.libertypubliclibrary.org.