Author: Denielle.Cazzolla
Video: Capital Project – High School proposed changes
Learn more about why the Innovation Lab and 300 Wing changes are a vital part of the capital project proposal:
LHS welcomes new assistant principal
Liberty High School welcomed Lacy Jones as assistant principal on Jan. 2.
Jones had served as a speech-language pathologist for Sullivan BOCES since 2018 and served as the related-services team lead, mentor and representative on numerous district committees. She provided early intervention speech pathology services to families in Orange County and Pennsylvania’s Pike County, where she lives with her husband and three children.
Jones is completing her certificate of advanced studies in school leadership through SUNY New Paltz and the Mid-Hudson School Study Council’s “Homegrown Sullivan” cohort.
She graduated summa cum laude from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania where she earned her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in speech-language pathology.
Proposed upgrades aim to provide safe, comfortable learning environment
Included in Liberty Central School District’s proposed $42.7 million capital project are vital upgrades to heating, plumbing and electrical systems, building repairs and safety enhancements that are vital to creating a comfortable and safe learning environment for the students and staff. Many of the items below were noted in Liberty’s latest state-required building condition survey, completed in 2022.
HVAC
In the three school buildings, heating, ventilation and air conditioning are controlled by outdated, inefficient pneumatic systems. A switch to direct digital control allows for more efficient heating and cooling of our buildings.
Proposed work at the elementary school would also replace the classroom unit ventilators and install a ventilation system in the gymnasium. The old steam boiler that provided heat to the entire building will be converted to hot water, a safer and more efficient system.
Electrical
Emergency generators will be replaced at the middle and high school, as well as in the district office. The middle and high school are deemed emergency shelters, and the district office houses the servers. New generators will help ensure power will be available to this vital systems if power is disrupted.
Electrical upgrades at the Middle School will help address continual electrical issues with the more than 30-year-old building. The 2000A main electrical distribution panel, damaged by water infiltration, has outlived its useful life and a replacement will allow electricity to be more effectively distributed. Site upgrades at the chiller and transformer feed locations at the middle school will mitigate issues with water infiltration into the building.
Hardwired carbon monoxide alarm systems will also be installed in all district buildings. A hardwired system allows for a more reliable system that doesn’t rely on replacing batteries on a regular basis.
Exterior repairs and upgrades
As part of the project, the elementary building facade near the roof will be repaired for preventative maintenance.
At the high school, exterior stairs to the 100/200 and 300 wings that are in disrepair will be replaced, allowing for a safer entry into the building.
The paths to the athletic fields will also be reconstructed to provide for an ADA compliant and safer route for the public to watch our student athletes perform. And when there, new complaint bleachers will allow all members of the community to display their Liberty pride on safe, accessible seating.
Interior upgrades
At the Elementary School, flooring repairs and replacement will address potential safety concerns. Vinyl asbestos tiles in one classroom are deteriorating. If left undisturbed, the tiles do not cause a hazard, but damaged tiles must be removed and properly mitigated. There are also sections of original wood flooring that are uneven and/or deteriorating that will be repaired or replaced and refinished.
Many people enjoy the view from above in the elementary auditorium. However, the railings are not compliant with ADA regulations. The proposed project would address these issues, making the bleachers above safer or more accessible for all who attend the concerts and programs at the elementary school
At the high school, cafeteria and senior lounge renovations are geared toward making the areas a more social and attractive place to gather. The changes also help make the area safer, offering more supervision in the lounge and creating a single point of entry to the dining area.
In the middle school, 41 interior doors will be replaced, and emergency lighting will be updated, creating a safer and more secure building.
Voting will take place from noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16, in the high school gymnasium, with a snow date of Jan. 17, at the same time and location.
For more information, visit the capital project page on Liberty’s website, https://www.libertyk12.org/about-us/capital-project-2023-24/, or ask questions at a community forum or via email at questions@libertyk12.org.
Community events set to provide information on capital project proposal
Liberty Central School District is proposing a nearly $42.7 million capital project that will address safety, efficiency of building systems and educational spaces and meeting the needs of today’s learners for tomorrow’s careers.
The project will go before voters Tuesday, Jan. 16, in the high school gymnasium between noon and 9 p.m. A snow date of Jan. 17 is set. To help inform voters about the proposal, a series of public meetings and presentations will be held in December and January.
The first forum will be held in WJFF’s Community Room at 2758 State Route 52 in Liberty at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20. The public is invited to hear a presentation from district administration and ask questions about the project. A second forum originally scheduled in White Sulphur Springs for Jan. 8 has been canceled.
On Thursday, Jan. 4, Superintendent Dr. Sullivan will offer a virtual presentation on the project via Zoom at 6 p.m. and will answer questions submitted in advance to questions@libertyk12.org. Questions must be submitted by Jan. 3 with “Capital Project” in the subject line. The Zoom link will be listed on the district’s webpage as the event gets closer.
On Wednesday, Jan. 10, the district will host a community forum and question-and-answer session with district administration, representatives from architects CS Arch and a turf specialist. A walkthrough of select project areas will follow the presentation. The Jan. 10 forum and Q&A will be live streamed via LocalLive on the district website. The public is invited to the event, which will begin at 6 p.m. in the high school auditorium.
The Liberty Central School Board of Education and administration, working with CSArch, the construction management team from Schoolhouse Construction Services and Fiscal Advisors, crafted the plan using information gathered in a capacity study, a long-term demographic analysis and the building condition survey conducted during the 2021-22 school year.
More information on the project is available on the district website.
Seventh graders learn about local, healthy food
Mr. Feeney’s seventh grade health and Mr. Diehl’s technology classes were able to learn about healthy eating and farm-to-table philosophy earlier this fall thanks to Foster Supply and A Single Bite.
This is the third year that Liberty Middle School and A Single Bite have partnered to teach students about local food and healthy nutrition.
During the series, the students had two in-class lessons, took a trip to Sprouting Dreams Farm and ate lunch at the Arnold House.
During the lessons, educators from A Single Bite talked to students about real vs. processed foods and talked about health and nutrition related statistics for New York state and Sullivan County, noting that Sullivan County’s rankings are slowly improving but still have far to go.
The students were offered three healthy snacks prepared with local, fresh ingredients. Students were encouraged to take one bite of each snack and describe the taste, texture and more. The reaction to each bite was mixed. Some students took a nibble and shook their heads, while others took larger bites. Some gave thumbs up and finished eating, others placed their snack on their plates, waiting for the next one.
At Sprouting Dreams, Eugene Thalmann educated the students about locally grown produce, starting your own business, importance of farms and offered samples. “The mustard plant at Sprouting Dreams farm was spicy but tasty,” student Miles Harman said.
It wasn’t just the produce that caught the attention of students.
“Farmer Eugene’s flowers were pretty and he gave us a lot of good information about life,” student Sophia Vasko said.
“Loki the farm dog was adorable and made the tour more fun,” student Alena Tarabichi added.
At the Arnold House, students were provided a meal that was served family style made with locally and regionally grown products, including a first course of an autumn salad of leaf lettuce, dried cranberries, red onion, feta cheese and apple cider vinaigrette, a second course of herb roasted chicken with gremolata, seasoned fingerlings potatoes and seasoned broccolini, and a dessert of chocolate pudding.
Students discussed the taste, smell and texture of each course.
“Those were some good potatoes; the seasoning was great,” student Adele Gulley said.
“The broccolini was perfectly cooked and well seasoned,” Joseph Certo added.
After each course, the chef shared with the students where the food came from and how it was prepared.
“The students and staff enjoyed themselves during the experience and are looking forward to next year already,” Feeney said.
Redhawk logo to be redesigned
The Liberty Central School District has determined that it is not in the district’s interest to use the Redhawk logo design that was previously approved. We will work with a new art and graphic design team to develop new designs for the Redhawk logo. We recognize that some individuals, organizations and entities may have made purchases of merchandise bearing the previous Redhawks logo. We are considering whether and how to equitably resolve any concerns about such purchases and will provide more details when they are available.
Frequently asked questions
Q. Has anyone demanded that the district not use the previous Redhawk logo?
A. No.
Q. Why is the Redhawk logo being changed?
A. To avoid any potential legal concerns that might arise.
Q. Will the district refund out-of-pocket costs for prior purchases of merchandise bearing the discarded mascot/logo?
A. We are working with the district’s legal team to consider whether and how that might be accomplished.
Q. How much money has the district spent on the discarded logo?
A. No significant expenditures have been made, in that we have not used the mascot on signage, sports equipment or sports uniforms. There have been some smaller expenditures, which we estimate to be a total of less than $2,350.
Q. Is the name “Redhawks” going to change?
A. No.
BOE approves vote on capital project
A nearly $42.7 million capital project will go before Liberty Central School District voters on Jan. 16, 2024.
The proposal, which received Board of Education approval Nov. 14 to move forward to a public vote, addresses issues identified in the latest building survey condition, upgrades mechanical, heating and electrical systems, improves, extends and expands the use of the current football field and track, enhances safety and reconfigures spaces to better meet the needs of today’s learners for future careers.
The proposal was reviewed by the board during the Oct. 10 meeting.
There is no expected tax impact from the project, as capital reserve funds, a bond and state aid are anticipated to cover all costs.
“I want to thank our architects CSArch, construction management team from Schoolhouse Construction Services, Fiscal Advisors and the board of education for their thoroughness and thoughtfulness in putting together this proposal,” Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said. “Together we have a plan that will provide a productive learning environment for our students well into the future.”
The district will schedule community forums and walkthroughs to explain the project and address any questions the public may have. They will be announced as they are scheduled.
Voting will take place from noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16, in the high school gymnasium, with a snow date of Jan. 17.
If approved, design is expected to be completed by July 2024, with New York State Education Department review and approval by November 2024. The contracts are expected to be awarded in March 2025, with construction to begin in spring 2025 and be completed by early fall 2027.
More information, as it becomes available, will be provided on the district’s website.
Senior soccer player earns Section 9 All Star honors
Carlos Campos Castro was one of 11 Class A Boys Soccer All Stars by the Section 9 Soccer Coaches Association. He anchored the Redhawks defense all season as centerback. His coach Debbie Simpson said he had good recovery speed, the ability to win 50/50 balls and took the majority of the goal kicks.
“With multiple changes and additions to the back line, Carlos was able to keep the backfield organized while being a strong presence and leader himself,” Simpson said. “Carlos’ defensive ability was noted by opposing coaches and was a definite factor in his selection to the Class A All-Star list.
“We will miss his defensive consistency next year,” she added.
LHS senior uses NASA opportunities to help further her goals beyond the rainbow
Jayla Edwards may have been singing “Somewhere over the Rainbow” this fall, but her goals go far above where any rainbow is found.
The Liberty High School senior, who played Dorothy in the Liberty Performing Arts’ fall production of “The Wizard of Oz,” has taken part in two highly selective experiences that are helping her pursue her career goal of being an aerospace engineer with NASA.
Edwards was one of 95 students, of more than 2,000 applicants, chosen for the NASA’s Science Mission Directorate STEM Enhancement in Earth Science, or SEES, high school internship program onsite at the University of Texas at Austin’s Center for Space Research.
“It was great getting to meet a bunch of people from all around the country with similar interests to mine,” she said.
Her experience there led to an even more exclusive opportunity. She was one of 12 students, of the more than 200 total SEES interns, who were invited to the OSIRIS REx VIP reveal event at NASA Johnson Space Center in October. The selection of students was based on the program mentors’ recommendations as well as the students’ ability to be ambassadors for the SEES program, Edwards said.
“We are so proud of Jayla,” Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said. “We are glad we are able to help her pursue her potential and support her in following her dreams.”
At the SEES program in July, Edwards was part of the Mars Rover Resource Utilization Team, which is similar to NASA missions she wants to be involved in during her career, she said.
The Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security-Regolith Explorer was the first mission by the United States to collect a materials sample from an asteroid. The sample from asteroid Bennu was dropped to Earth via a parachute during a flyby of the spacecraft on Sept. 24. The samples were officially revealed to the public on Oct. 11.
Beyond being able to be present at this moment in history, Edwards was able to learn more about NASA and get a close up look at the facilities that help bring the space missions to life.
“My favorite one was the Neutral Buoyancy Lab,” she said. “It was really cool to see the pool where the astronauts work and learn about some of the things that are done there.”
Edwards has also been invited to present her Mars Rover project work, as well as another project she worked on at SEES, at the American Geophysical Union’s annual meeting this winter.
Edwards wasn’t always looking toward the skies for her career. Initially she wanted to go into neuroscience.
“I was and still am extremely interested in the brain and how it works,” she said. “I wanted to do more research on the brain and neurological disorders but soon realized that anything having to do with biology was probably not for me, since I can’t wrap my head around the subject.
“I chose aerospace engineering because it allowed me to explore something just as perplexing and interesting using two of my favorite subjects, math and science, without having to worry about biology,” she continued. “I have also always been interested in space so when I discovered this career, it just seemed like a perfect fit.”
Edwards has been a Liberty student most of her life, except for two years at Fallsburg in elementary school. She said her science teachers have been great influences.
“Mr. (Eugene) Doyle helped make science a lot of fun for me and my classmates,” Edwards said. “Mrs. (Lucinda) Nolan mentored Science Olympiad, and being in that club and learning and researching about different areas of science helped a lot. Science Olympiad ultimately gave me the push to apply to the SEES internship.”
While her love of science extends outside of the classroom, her extracurricular life doesn’t revolve around it. She is a member of the National Honor Society, the LPA and Liberty High School’s Honors Chorus and Honors Orchestra.
Although she doesn’t yet know where she will be going to college — Rochester Institute of Technology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University are her favorites — her ultimate goal is to work for NASA. And while traveling to outer space would be interesting, she said, she plans to keep her feet firmly planted on the ground while helping others explore the universe over the rainbow.
Liberty BOE reviews capital project proposal
Liberty Central School District Board of Education on Tuesday, Oct. 10, reviewed an updated capital project proposal that addresses safety, efficiency and meeting the needs of today’s learners, and is not expected to have any tax impact on district taxpayers.
CSArch, an architecture, engineering and construction management firm, working with the construction management firm Schoolhouse Construction, has been working with the district to recommend upgrades to the district’s aging buildings and systems. The original part of the elementary school is around 100 years old and once housed the entire district population. Two additions were built later. The high school is 60 years old, and the middle school was constructed in the early 1990s.
The following is included in the nearly $42.7 million proposal:
High School Building Improvements (about $14.98 million)
- Exterior stair replacement
- 300 Wing renovations, including additional classroom space and upgrades to the counseling suite
- Cafeteria renovations
- Innovation Lab renovations
- Replace emergency generator
- Hardwired carbon monoxide alarm systems
- HVAC controls upgrades (Pneumatics to Direct Digital Control)
High School: Athletic/Site Improvements (about $6.88 million)
- Resurfacing the running track
- Artificial turf multi-sport playing field (with drainage)
- Slot drains at track perimeter
- Replace the long-jump
- New concrete sidewalk for ADA accessibility
- New bleachers
- New press box
- Audio, lighting and scoreboard improvements
- Field lighting
Middle School (about $3.61 million)
- Interior door replacements (41 doors total)
- HVAC controls upgrades (Pneumatics to Direct Digital Control)
- Site electric upgrades to address water infiltration into building
- Replace 2000A main electrical distribution panel
- Emergency lighting upgrades
- New Emergency Generator
- Hardwired carbon monoxide alarm systems
Elementary School (about $13.93 million)
- Roofing repairs and upgrades
- Hazardous materials abatement (VAT Floor Tile)
- Wood flooring replacement
- Compliant railings at interior bleachers
- Classroom Unit Vent Replacements
- Boiler Conversions (steam to hot water)
- Gymnasium Ventilation System Upgrades
- HVAC Controls Upgrades
- Hardwired Carbon Monoxide Alarm Systems
Central Administrative Offices (about $265,000)
- New Emergency Generator
- Hardwired Carbon Monoxide Alarm Systems
Storage Building (about $3.03 million)
The proposal also includes additional funds for the district-wide maintenance building that voters approved in 2021. Because of supply chain issues that increased costs of materials and increases in labor rates, bids for the building came in significantly higher than anticipated. Costs are not expected to drop and renovations for a new Innovation Lab are contingent on the relocation of Buildings and Grounds into the new storage building. The proposal includes an additional $1.56 million for the construction of the maintenance building, bringing the total to $3.03 million, reflecting the current material and labor market. The original referendum will be rescinded. The district is also exploring options for alternative construction methods to reduce costs while maintaining the same quality and durability of the building.
The presentation to the board can be seen here
The board is expected to vote on a resolution authorizing a public referendum, expected this winter, at an upcoming meeting.
LCSD Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan will present the proposal at the Liberty Town Board meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16, at the town offices at 120 N. Main St. District officials are planning additional community meetings, tours and more to inform the public about the proposal. The dates will be announced as they are scheduled.