With spring here, Liberty Central School District is reminding families of some communication policies and safety procedures.

The district encourages the  community to come out to support the students in their academic, athletic and fine art endeavors, while ensuring the campuses remain safe.

With capital project construction ongoing, those who are visiting the middle and high school campus are asked to be mindful of the work in progress. While significant progress has been made, the new turf athletic field and the surrounding areas are still off limits to the public. Work on the track is expected to begin soon. Construction of the maintenance building has also begun, which means the parking lot on Winthrop Avenue, as well as the walkway from the lot to the high school is closed. Those who are attending softball, baseball or tennis matches should  park in the lot between the high school and district office.

Parents and guardians are also reminded of the most efficient ways to communicate any concerns they may have. The  Chain of Command Calling Guide includes details on whom to contact for what. Concerns regarding bullying and safety may also be reported through the Anonymous Alerts system.

The district adheres to our visitor expectations and the New York State Public High School Athletic Association guidelines, which encourage positivity, support and sportsmanship, and reminds spectators to follow the policy. Tobacco, alcohol, marijuana or other drug use is prohibited on school grounds, as are pets. Staff members are onsite during all contests and they will ask those who violate the policies to comply or leave.

The district also issued reminders of the steps in place to make Liberty a safe place in which to learn. Entry to all buildings requires keycard access for staff, and LCSD has a strict visiting procedure. Visitors are restricted to a single point of entry in each building. All visitors must show a valid ID at an automated kiosk before entering any of our school buildings, and will be buzzed in. All classrooms require keycard access, and doors are expected to remain closed and locked when occupied.

Through the district’s door lock system, school officials are able to immediately lock all doors if there is an emergency. Digital signs throughout common areas will help inform students and staff of what is happening. There are also strobe lights inside and outside the building, which will help alert of emergencies and advise those outside the building not to enter. If an emergency occurs, the Liberty Police Department is able to monitor school cameras.

LPD is an important partner, as a school resource officer from LPD is placed in each building. They regularly patrol and check for vulnerabilities and are a valuable resource to students and staff.

Faculty and staff are trained in what to do, in line with the districtwide safety plan, if an emergency occurs, and our schools have emergency drills several times a year.

“Safety is always one of the top priorities for Liberty Central School District, and we appreciate your support and assistance,” Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said.

The next Board of Education meeting will be at 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, in the HS Media Center at 125 Buckley St., Liberty. 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, April 13, at Board Docs.

There will be an informational and sign up meeting for the Sullivan County Soapbox Derby at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, at the Liberty Firehouse at 256 Sprague Ave. in Liberty.

Participants will have a chance to compete at the World Championships

Liberty Performing Arts will present “Almost, Maine” at 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 17 and 18, in the high school auditorium.

Set in a small, northern town under the glow of the northern lights, “Almost, Maine,” a play by John Cariani” is a series of charming and poignant vignettes about love in all its forms—falling in and out of love, missed connections, and unexpected second chances. Filled with humor, warmth, and a touch of magic, it’s a story that will leave you smiling long after the final curtain, presenters said.

“Our high school students have been working incredibly hard to bring this heartfelt and whimsical production to life,” said directors Ben Abrams and Meghan Kehrer. “We are excited to share their dedication and talent with the audience.”

Directed by Ben Abrams and Meghan Kehrer, this production showcases the incredible talent and dedication of Liberty High School’s student performers. Performing, in order of appearance, are Sebastian Yupanqui, Kristjana Geirsdotti, Cassandra Porter, Riley Santiago, Orchid Langlois, McKinzie Paterson, Sarai Miranda, Jill Baumander, Lena Lagattuta, Kelsey Hopkins and Kourtney Perry.

Lighting design is by Kathleen Johansen, with set and prop design by Angela Kruger and Michael Fritz and costume design by Emily McConnell.

Community members are encouraged to attend. Tickets are $10 and are available for purchase online. Children 2 and younger are admitted free, However, the show is most appropriate for ages 13 and older due to content.

Registration is now open for kindergarten at Liberty Elementary School for the 2026-27 school year. There are also open slots available for pre-kindergarten, and a lottery will not be held. Seats will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

To qualify for kindergarten, 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.

Eligible pre-kindergarten students must be residents of the Liberty Central School District and turn 4 years old before Dec. 1, 2026.

To register, parents or guardians must fill out a registration packet for kindergarten or a registration packet for pre-kindergarten, 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.

For more information about pre-k, visit our UPK FAQs page.

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

Dear Liberty,

As the health and safety of our staff and students are our top priorities, we want to update you on the steps we have taken to address the identified lead-based paint in the older section of Liberty Elementary School. To ensure a healthy environment, the district worked with environmental and cleanup experts to address these areas until we complete a full remediation process.

Even though professional tests showed that dust levels were already well within safe limits, we took extra steps to make sure everyone stays safe. Our cleanup teams used a thorough safety process in classrooms and hallways. This included using specialized air filters to keep the air clean while workers carefully removed any loose or peeling paint. After the paint was removed, all surfaces were deep-cleaned using industrial vacuums and wet-wiping. To provide a long-term safety barrier, a white sealant was painted over these areas to lock everything in place.

Throughout this process, all school supplies and furniture were either moved or covered in protective plastic to keep them clean. Upon your child’s return from Spring Break, they will find their classrooms ready for learning. Some of the walls have been finished with a new white sealant, and all items have been moved back into place by the contractors. To ensure a healthy environment, the contractors used green, plant-based products to clean the building, making it safe for both students and staff.

We are committed to providing a safe place to learn and look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow, April 7.

If you have any questions please email Questions@libertyk12.org.

Sincerely,
Dr. Patrick Sullivan
Superintendent

Children’s Home of Wyoming Conference and Sullivan County DSS will host a “Become a Foster Parent” training starting April 28.

The 10 week course will be held from 6-9 p.m. Tuesdays via Zoom. Those interested may sign up via an online form.

For more information, contact Kateigh Jamieson at 845-720-0717 or kjamieson@chowc.org

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.