Liberty Central School District has been informed that a private contractor has finished a sidewalk project on Buckley Street, but the sidewalk will not be ready for foot traffic during morning arrival times.

As a result, the Village of Liberty has informed the district that the westbound lane (the right side going up from Main Street) of Buckley Street between Marion and Winthrop will be closed to vehicle traffic during the morning hours of Wednesday, Nov. 12.

Vehicles traveling west on Buckley Street should use the detour of Marion Avenue, West Liberty Street, and Winthrop to regain access to Buckley Street.

The Liberty Police Department will be assisting with the traffic pattern and monitoring the safety of our student walkers.

Dear Liberty families,

We know our students are at their best when they feel secure at home. We also know many of our families are suffering hardships from the government shutdown. And with the pending cut to SNAP benefits, the impact will be felt even more.

We do our best to work as partners with our families to ensure that our students can perform their best inside and outside the classroom.

To help ensure our students have enough to eat, we offer free breakfast and lunch to all students. We also operate our Snack Pack program, which provides healthy meals over breaks and weekends to students who face food insecurity. For more information on the program, or to donate, contact Community Schools Coordinator Katlyn Rusin.

Our families can also reach out to our Student Services and or their school’s counseling department for more information about what services may be available.

There are also several organizations in the community that can assist families in need.

Sullivan County Department of Health and Family services offers a list of local food pantries. Scroll down the page to find English and Spanish versions of their brochure.

The regional food bank is also offering a free Thanksgiving food distribution. Locally the distribution will be at 10 a.m. Nov. 22 on a first-come first-served basis at the Government Center in Monticello. Learn more at the regional food bank’s Thanksgiving food distribution page.

New York State has also created a list of resources available to families:

• FAQs regarding SNAP benefit cut
• Find Your Local Food Bank
• The Food Pantries Food Connect Map
• Resources for Working Families
• Find Services that Can Help
• Stay Connected With NY State of Health
• Social Services by County

I also encourage those who can to volunteer at or donate to our community organizations that are working to help our families in need.

We are proud of our Redhawk family and know that working together we can get through this difficult time.

Sincerely,

Dr. Patrick Sullivan
Superintendent

The Liberty High School National Art Honor Society will offer holiday family photo sessions from 4 to 8 p.m. Nov. 13 and 14.

For $20, families will get three edited image files in time for holiday greetings sent to their emails. . There will be a choice of black, white or a holiday background shot at the LHS studio.

The fee includes two different settings, so families can choose to use both for the full family or perhaps use one just for the kids. The three images can be mixed and matched from the two settings.

For an additional $5, families can also receive an 8″-by-10″ print of one file, or more of the files edited.

The event is a fundraiser for the group to purchase art kits for Liberty’s Children’s Home.

Sign up can be done on the Holiday Photo Shoot Appointment Page. Click on “Next available booking date” choose a time and date, and input your name, email address and choice of background.

Payments can be made with cash, check or use pay by credit card via the NAHS fundraising donations portal

For more information, contact adviser Kath Johansen at kjohansen@libertyk12.org

Liberty Central School District is seeking bids for pest control services. Specifications will be available starting Oct. 1 at the Liberty Central School District Business Office at  115 Buckley St. in Liberty starting Oct. 1. Bid responses are done by 10 a.m. Oct. 14, with the bid awarded no later than Oct. 31.

Full details are available here.

Work is moving forward on the capital projects approved by voters in January 2024 and May 2025.

The Liberty Central School Board of Education heard an update from project architect LAN Associates and construction manager Schoolhouse Construction Services during the board’s meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 23.

Phase 1

Dirt was turned on the first phase of construction, the athletic facility, in late spring with work progressing throughout the summer and into the fall. The lights were installed in late summer. The turf field installation is expected to begin next week and take about three weeks to complete. Work on the bleacher and press box foundations have started and will continue over the next two weeks, with delivery and installation scheduled for early next year, depending on weather Construction of the six lane track will begin after the bleachers are installed. The facility is expected to be ready for graduation 2026.

The second part of the first phase is the new maintenance building. The project is being prepared to go for bid.

Phase 2

Basic design work is complete for the second phase of the project, which includes work at the high school and middle school.

The work at the high school includes renovations in the 300 wing and cafeteria, creation of the Innovation Lab, a generator replacement, stair removal, and upgrades to the HVAC controls, carbon monoxide alarm system and code-mandated items.

The work at the middle school includes site drainage improvements, replacement of the electrical main distribution panel and some internal doors, upgrades to the HVAC controls and carbon monoxide alarm system and a new emergency generator.

The project design is being prepared for submission to the New York State Education Department for approval, with work expected to begin next year.

Phase 3

The final phase of the project includes work at the elementary school and the district office. The project is in the design phase with work expected to take place in 2026 and 2027.

The work at the district office includes carbon monoxide alarm system upgrades and a new emergency generator.

The work at the elementary school includes items approved in both capital project proposals: Roofing repairs and upgrades, asbestos flooring abatement and replacement, wood flooring replacement, new complaint railing on the interior bleachers in the gym, and carbon monoxide alarm system and gym ventilation upgrades. Additional HVAC upgrades were approved in the 2025 project to address state-mandated temperature limits in classroom spaces. HVAC work includes unit ventilator upgrades in the classrooms, boiler conversion to accommodate the additional air conditioning and HVAC control upgrades.

LAN has completed all major architectural and mechanical site survey work, but additional visits to the school may be needed as the design is developed and finalized. The HVAC load calculations have been finalized and the preparation of demolition drawing is ongoing. The vertical package unit ventilators (VUV) locations have been laid out, with a mock of a classroom VUV built and reviewed with the district earlier this month. The options for providing ventilation air in the gymnasium are being reviewed and coordinated. LAN has also been in communication with Day Automation, which provides energy services to the district, in regard to the boiler replacement in the original building or expansion of the existing boiler plant.

LAN and Schoolhouse also offered an update on the emergency culvert replacement at the Elementary School. A majority of the work was completed before school began, with a few minor items yet to be completed

The presentation can be seen here.

Liberty Central School District families are invited to the Liberty Unity Event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, at Creekside Park in Liberty.

There will be free food, while supplies last, free games and music by DJ Kool D.

The event is sponsored by the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Sullivan County, SALT Cares, Lets Stop Stigma Sullivan County, Action Toward Independence (ATI), Liberty Rotary, Liberty Police, Cornerstone Family Healthcare and the Sullivan Central Rotary Club.

Chocolate, rocks and a movie are on the agenda at Liberty Public Library in the coming weeks and Liberty Central School District students and families are invited.

There will be two free events for middle and high school students.

Chocolate will be the theme of a game day at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30. Students in fifth though 12th grade will be able to play candy bingo and peppermint patty shuffleboard and take part in an M&M sorting race. Of course, candy will also be available for eating.

The following week, teen rock painting will be offered at 3:15 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6. All materials will be provided for the project for fifth through 12th graders after school.

For students of all ages will be a Family Movie Afternoon featuring “Lilo & Stitch” at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4.  All are welcome to the free movie (with popcorn). An adult must stay will children younger than 12.

The Liberty Public Library is at 189 N. Main St. in Liberty.

For more information call 845-292-6070 or visit www.libertypubliclibrary.org.

Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan shares the following message for the Redhawk Community:

Transcription below:

A school is just a building until faculty, staff, and students return. That’s why I’m so happy to have school back in session. It was wonderful to see so many new and returning Redhawks.

As is often the case at the start of the school year, we faced a few minor setbacks, but they were handled with minimal disruption. One disruption we avoided was the alternative traffic pattern at the elementary school. I’m grateful the culvert replacement was completed in time for the first day. I’m also pleased to report that the athletic field turf is expected to be installed by the end of the month.

In the meantime, I hope you’ll attend district and school events, cheer on our athletes, and support our students in the arts.

To stay informed, please visit our website at www.libertyk12.org and sign up for ParentSquare to receive the latest updates from the district, schools, classes, clubs, and more. As always, if you have questions, please email us at questions@libertyk12.org.

Let’s work together to keep Liberty a great place to learn and make the 2025–26 school year one filled with Liberty Pride.

Thank you