Month: May 2025
BOE to meet Tuesday
The next Board of Education meeting will be at 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, May 27, in the High School 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, May 26, at Board Docs.
Free showing of ‘Dog Man’ schedule at library
The Liberty Public Library will host a free showing of the family movie, “Dog Man,” at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 7.
Students and their parents/guardians are invited to enjoy this movie together at the library. There will be popcorn for all who attend.
An adult MUST stay with children younger than 12.
The library is at 189 N. Main St. in front of the Liberty Elementary School. For more information, call 845-292-6070 or visit www.libertypubliclibrary.org.
A message from the principal on end of year events and dates
Dear Parents/Guardians and Students:
I hope everyone is enjoying our spring weather! Shared with you below are upcoming important dates and events to conclude our 2024-2025 school year. We look forward to seeing you as we celebrate our students, create memories, and reach milestones. More information will follow regarding specific information for senior based events including graduation, Regents exams, Chromebook collection, and Summer School.
- 5.22.25: K-12 District Art Show, 4-6 p.m.
- 5.26.25: Memorial Day Parade, Main Street, Liberty, Line up 10 a.m.
- 5.28.25: Academic Block “L”, David E. Panebaker (LHS) Auditorium, 6:00 p.m.
- 6.10.25: JV and Modified Sports “Redhawk Recognition,” 3:15 p.m. for students, 4:30 p.m. for families
- 6.11.25: Geometry Regents, 8 a.m. (Only students taking the exam attend school)
- 6.11.25: Liberty Music and Community Festival at Lapolt Park (Rain Date 6.13.25), 4:30 p.m.
- 6.12.25: Athletic Varsity Block “L” Banquet, David E. Panebaker (LHS) Auditorium, 6:00 p.m.
- 6.16.25: Senior Walk and Senior Class Picture (during the morning of the school day)
- 6.16.25: LHS Last Day of Classes
- 6.16.25: Senior Assembly, David E. Panebaker (LHS) Auditorium, 6:00 p.m.
- 6.17 – 6.27.25: Regents and Final Exams
- 6.27.25: Wall of Fame Reception, 5:00 p.m.
- 6.27.25: Graduation Rehearsal, 4:45 p.m. (Graduates arrive by 4:30 p.m.) and Graduation, 7 p.m. (Guests may arrive beginning at 6:00 p.m.)
Thank you for your continued support. Please contact us with any questions.
All the best,
Dr. Derek Adams
Principal
Liberty CSD voters approve $68.5M school budget proposal, $7.5M capital project
On Tuesday, May 20, voters in the Liberty Central School District approved, 658-131, the district’s $68.5 million budget proposal for the 2025-26 school year.
“We thank the residents of Liberty Central School District for their continued support so we can empower our students to contribute and thrive in a diverse community by pursuing their potential,” Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said. “We are also happy we could present a budget that, for the seventh year in a row, did not increase the tax levy.”
The $68,508,362 budget funds all current student programs and services as the district continues its vertical and horizontal alignment of curriculum, adding the curriculum management platform Eduplanet to aid in curriculum mapping. The district is also expanding partnerships with colleges and universities to offer additional credit-bearing classes for high school students.
Voters also approved a nearly $7.5 million capital project, 616-167. The project will add air conditioning to the elementary school to address recent state legislation that sets 88 degrees as the maximum temperature in educational and support services spaces. The project also includes related boiler and electrical upgrades. There is no expected tax levy impact, as fund balances will be used to offset the costs not covered by state reimbursements.
“We are glad that this project was approved so that we can help keep our students cool in a more cost-effective manner by working this into our ongoing project,” Dr. Sullivan said.
Three board of education members were elected to three-year terms on the board. John L. Nichols with 761 votes, Timothy Hamblin with 759 votes and Matthew DeWitt with 762 votes Also on the ballot were: Miriam Rivka Singer who received 28 votes, and Miriam Heimlich who received 27 votes. Six write-in votes were also cast: four for Richard Ienuso and one each for Mike Grosman and Pamela Hamlin.
Groundbreaking set for Phase 1 of capital project
Dirt will soon be moved for the Liberty Central School District capital project that was approved by voters in January 2024. Following final approval by the state Education Department earlier this month, Phase 1 of the project is set to begin on June 16.
A ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony will take place at the football field at 9 a.m. Friday, June 13, featuring officials from the district as well as project partners construction management firm Schoolhouse Construction, design and architecture firm LAN Associates, and construction firm Clark Companies, who is contracted to complete the work for the athletic field improvements..
Phase1 of the project 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.
Liberty Art Show to take place May 22
The Liberty Central School Art Department will host the annual K-12 Art show from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, May 22, at the Liberty High School lobby. More than 300 works will be on display. There will be refreshments, raffles, artist presentations and at 6 p.m., the National Art Honor Society will induct its new members. The public is welcome to attend.
Sports schedule, and results, for the week of May 19-25, 2025
Our student-athletes are in action this week in baseball, golf, softball, tennis and track and field.
Here are the schedule and results, if available. Livestream links are included where available.
The schedule is subject to change. Check the Liberty schedule on the Section IX website for the latest.
Monday, May 19
Noon: Boys and Girls Varsity Track and Field Thrower’s Pentathlon vs. Multiple Schools at 12th Rock
4:30 p.m.: Boys Varsity Tennis vs. James I. O’Neill at James I. O’Neill High School
Tuesday, May 20
9 a.m.: Boys Varsity Golf Sectionals vs. Multiple Schools at Wiltwyck Golf Club
Result: Owen Moore shot an 85, which qualifies him for the finals.
11 a.m.: Girls Varsity Golf Semis vs. Multiple Schools at Apple Greens Golf Course.
4:15 p.m.: Modified Baseball vs. Tri-Valley at Tri-Valley Central School
4:15 p.m.: Modified Softball vs. Tri-Valley at Tri-Valley Secondary School
5:30 p.m.: Varsity Softball vs. Beacon City at Liberty High School
Result: Beacon 13, Liberty 0 (5 innings) Beacon’s bats never cooled and right-hander Kat Ruffy was in complete command as the Beacon Bulldogs rolled to a 13-0 mercy-rule victory over Liberty on Tuesday, crashing the Redhawks’ Senior Night celebration in emphatic fashion. Before the first pitch, Liberty honored its five graduating seniors—Aubrey Botsford, Brenna Mangan, co-captain Megan Schmidt, Ashley Szuba and co-captain Cameryn Will—with flowers, framed pictures and speeches by their underclassmen teammates. The quintet will trade their cleats for college textbooks next fall, with Botsford and Mangan headed to SUNY Sullivan, Schmidt to Palm Beach State, Szuba pursuing cosmetology, and Will bound for Hartwick College. Once the ceremony ended, Beacon (6-11) wasted no time quieting the home crowd. The Bulldogs struck for two runs in the opening frame and scored in every inning, piling up 15 hits overall. Ruffy led the charge on both sides of the ball. The senior went 3-for-4 at the plate—including a ringing triple—drove in five runs and crossed the plate twice. In the circle, she fired a two-hit shutout, fanning seven and walking three over five brisk innings. Liberty’s lone bright spots came courtesy of its seniors. Will had an infield single in the second, and Mangan lined a base hit to left field in the fourth. Junior Angie Wheeler battled through traffic and defense miscues in the circle, yielding just three earned runs while striking out five. “It wasn’t the result we wanted, but I’m proud of how our seniors carried themselves,” Liberty head coach Dave Philips said. “They’ve made their mark on the program and shown growth as players, and more importantly, as teammates. They have set a standard for the younger girls to follow, and will be missed.”
Wednesday, May 21
3:30 p.m.: Girls Modified Track and Field Invitational vs. Multiple Schools at Goshen.
3:30 p.m.: Boys and Girls Varsity Track and Field Invitational vs. Multiple Schools at Sullivan West-Jeffersonville.
Thursday, May 22
All events postponed or canceled.
Friday, May 23
No events scheduled.
Saturday, May 24
No events scheduled.
Sunday, May 25
No events scheduled.
LCSD seeks Sidewalk Committee members
Liberty Central School District is creating a Sidewalk Committee, a subcommittee of the District Safety Team. The goal is to gather input from community members to help create ideas to support students and families who use the sidewalks to get to and from the school buildings. The committee is open to students, parents and guardians, faculty and staff and community members.
The meeting will be held in the District office at 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 3.
Those interested in participating in the committee are asked to fill out the form at https://tinyurl.com/LCSDsidewalkcommittee.
Retesting show lead levels in water below action level at Liberty schools
On May 2, Liberty Central School District completed follow up testing on 10 sinks that were found to have lead levels above action level during lead in water testing in April.
Following remediation, water from all 10 sinks was retested and all locations were found to have levels below the action level of 5 parts per billion.
More information and links to the full first and second round reports are available here.
Budget vote, BOE election, meetings set for May 20
The Annual Budget Vote and Election will be on Tuesday, May 20, with voting in the High School Media Center from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Information regarding the budget vote and election can be found at the Liberty CSD website.
The Board of Education will hold a Special Meeting at 6 p.m. May 20 in the District Office and they anticipate to enter into executive session immediately and to adjourn at its conclusion. There will be no other business and this meeting is not open to the public.
The Board of Education will convene a second Special Meeting after 8 p.m. in the HS Media Center at the conclusion of ballot counting in the High School Gymnasium to accept the results of the ballot. There will be no other business. This meeting and vote counting and tabulation is open to the public. The agendas will be available on Monday, May 19, at BoardDocs for both meetings.
The next regular Board of Education meeting will be on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.