The Liberty Public Library will host several events for students in the coming weeks.

On April 4 and May 2, Bilingual Story Time with Xina will continue. The story times, from 11 a.m. to noon, aim to help children’s cognitive flexibility, memory and executive function, and will include stories, songs and crafts. Snacks and refreshments will be provided for the children. No registration is required. These events are held in partnership with Sullivan County Public Health and Liberty Public Library. For more information, call 845-292-5910, ext. 2207.

For kindergartners, the library will host a Junior Bookworm Club afterschool Mondays, April 27-May 18. It will take place from 2:30 to 4 p.m., and library staff will pick children from Liberty Elementary to escort them to the library.
Participating children will enjoy books, play games, have snacks, do crafts and more. Registration will begin at 10 a.m., Monday, April 6, by calling 845-292-6070. Those who call earlier will be asked to call back. Permission slips will be sent home with all children who are registered. Slips must be returned to the library or the child’s teacher indicating pickup preference. Children may be picked up at the library by 4 or they can be escorted to the LES Boys & Girls Club, if they are signed up.

On Tuesday, April 21, starting at 3:!5 p.m., teens are invited to stop by the library, at 189 N. Main St. in Liberty, to create a variety of small artwork to fill the Liberty Museum and Art Center’s Creation Station. Teens can earn an hour of volunteer service time for this activity.

For more information on the Bookwork Club or the Teen Creation Station, call 845-292-6070 or visit the library’s website, www.libertypubliclibrary.org.

The town and village of Liberty are planning a Joint Comprehensive Plan meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, at the Liberty Senior Center at 119 N. Main St.

The public is encourage to attend.

During the meeting, the committee and attendees will review community feedback and local strengths and challenges, discuss the current 2008 Comprehensive plan and share ideas and priorities for Liberty’s future. The discussion will help guide the development of a new Joint Comprehensive Plan.

For more information and plan documents, visit the documents and forms page on the town’s website and scroll to “Liberty Joint Comprehensive Plan.”

Registration for kindergarten at Liberty Elementary School will open April 1.

To qualify, children must be 5 years old on or before Dec. 1, 2026, and a resident of the Liberty Central School District. Students that are in the Liberty Central School District universal pre-k program at LES do not need to register.

To register, parents or guardians must fill out a registration packet and provide a copy of parent/guardian’s photo ID; custody papers, if applicable; proof of residency, such as a utility bill or rental lease; and the child’s birth certificate, immunization records and a copy of recent physical exam, which must include all school physical exam requirements. Parents and guardians are encouraged to check with their child’s doctor for details. The child’s healthcare insurance card is also requested.

To register, email haustin@libertyk12.org or call 845-292-5400, ext. 2331.

Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan reviews the winter season, offers updates on the capital project and looks ahead to the budget and the spring season.

Please watch the video below:

The Sullivan County PK-12 Art Show will present the work of students from the county’s seven school districts and Sullivan BOCES at the Event’s Gallery at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts from April 10 to April 12.

There will be an opening for high school student from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 9.

The public opening and reception will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Friday April 10, with the show continuing from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 11 and 12.

During the show, student artwork from the 10 media categories of Ceramics and Glass, Digital Art Design, Black and White Drawing, Color Drawing,
Mixed Media, Painting, Black and White Photography, Color Photography, Film and Animation, and Sculpture.

The Bethel Woods Center for the Arts will also provide free museum admission to students attending the Art Show throughout the weekend.

The Sullivan County PK-12 Art Show is one of the many programs offered through the Arts In Education Program at Sullivan BOCES. Dedicated to raising visual and aesthetic literacy standards and levels while strengthening and supporting learning in all curriculum areas, the Arts In Education Program supports the Arts and arts-integrated learning experiences for K-12 students and teachers.

For more information about the Arts In Education Program at Sullivan BOCES, visit scboces.org.

Bethel Woods is at 200 Hurd Road in Bethel.

Requests for transportation to non-public schools for the 2026-27 school must be submitted by parents/guardians in writing by April 1.

A parent or guardian of a child not living in the district on that date must submit a written request within 30 days after establishing residency in the district. Requests must be submitted on an annual basis.

A request may be denied for lack of a reasonable explanation, as determined by the Liberty Board of Education.

Forms are available at nonpublic schools in the Liberty Central School District and are submitted to the LCSD Assistant Superintendent for Business’ office. Forms are also available on our website.

The New York State Education Department recently released accountability designations for all public school districts as required under the state’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

A few changes were noted.

According to the New York State Education Department:

• The Middle School is now an Additional Targeted Support and Improvement School. The Hispanic student subgroup was a previously identified group listed for Target Support and Improvement and is performing at or below the criteria for the lowest 5% of Title I schools.
• The Middle School was also designated as a Potential TSI school, due to the achievement of our students with disabilities.  Potential TSI designation means that the subgroup has not met expectations for a single year.
• The Elementary School also remains designated as a Potential TSI School, based on the achievement scores of our Hispanic student subgroup.
• Liberty High School remains a Local Support and Improvement school, formerly known as a “School in Good Standing.”
• The District continues to be a Targeted Support and Improvement District, because of the Middle School designation.

The designations are in effect for the 2025-26 school year based on 2024-25 data.

For more information about the district’s accountability designations, visit the district’s ESSA webpage, or contact Assistant Superintendent Dr. Derek Adams  at 845-292-5400, ext. 2052, or dadams@libertyk12.org.

There are several Easter events taking place in the area for Liberty families in the coming weeks.

On Saturday, March 21, the Town of Liberty Parks and Recreation will host its Liberty Community Easter Celebration, with an easter egg hunt and activities starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 21, at the Liberty Elementary School Field. The Egg hunt will be done by age groups: 0-2, 3-4, 5-6, and 7 and older. That will be followed by the Liberty Elks Lodge 1545 annual Easter Event from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Lunch and photos will be available at the lodge on Darbee Lane. All kids up to age 10 will receive an Easter Basket while supplies last. For more information, call 845-292-3434.

The following weekend, the Hurleyville Performing Arts Center will host Breakfast with the Easter Bunny from 9 to 11 a.m. March 28. The cost will be $15 per person or $5 for children 3 and younger for the breakfast buffet. An Easter egg hunt will follow. HPAC is at 219 Main St. in Hurleyville. Tickets are available for purchase online. For more information, visit hpacny.org

Liberty Central School District recently received a $525,000 three-year grant to help our students who are experiencing housing insecurity.
The grant is part of the  New York State Education Department’s distribution of $8 million in federal funding to educational institutions through the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act.

WJFF and Radio Catskill interviewed Liberty CSD Director of Student Services Deborah DeGraw and McKinney-Vento Outreach Coordinator Dawn Hurley about the grant and how it will be used at Liberty.

For more information about the program, visit the McKinney-Vento page on the district website.