The Liberty Community Snack Pack Program helps provide nonperishable weekend meals for students at Liberty Central School District.

To donate to the Regional Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, which partners with the Snack Pack Program and Liberty Community School Care Closet, headquartered at the Middle School at 145 Buckley St., visit https://give.regionalfoodbank.net/libertysnackpack, or visit our Amazon Snack Pack Wishlist at https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2SKHOPVIMIX8O. Items in the cart can be purchased and will be shipped directly to Liberty Middle School.

For more information, email School Coordinator Katlyn Rusin at krusin@libertyk12.org or call 845-292-5400.

The grand opening of the Walnut Mountain House History Trail will take place starting with a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 6, at 73 Walnut Mountain Road in Liberty.

There will be two guided hikes, a slower pace and a faster pace, along the trail following the ribbon cutting.

The trail is a mile-long, self-guided walking trail blending local history, nature and education. The trail follows the old carriage road that once brought visitors to the Walnut Mountain House at the summit, where the hotel’s old foundation can still be seen.

The public is invited to the event to learn about the train and its past through interpretive panels along the way.

Learn more about the Walnut Mountain House project online. To register for the grand opening, call Lisa at 845-693-4181, email Lisa@morgan-outdoors.com by June 5.

Liberty Middle School will host its inaugural Community School Farmstand, a special event dedicated to supporting Liberty Central families. Through a partnership with the Snack Pack Program, The Regional Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, and Sullivan 180, free fresh food and resources will be available to LCSD families in need.

The event will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday, May 22, on a first-come, first-served basis.

There will be free groceries for any Liberty K-12 family, an on-site SNAP advocate to help families t0 sign up for benefits, and guides to local food pantries and community resources.

For more information, email Community School Coordinator Katlyn Rusin at krusin@libertyk12.org.

Dear Families:

We are writing to provide additional context after some members of our school community received an e-mail from Kroll Settlement Administration concerning a federal class action lawsuit and proposed class action legal settlement involving the Naviance platform.

Naviance is an online platform that schools throughout the country use for college and career planning. Naviance is owned by PowerSchool.

The District used the Naviance platform for multiple years through the 2023-2024 school year. The District now uses SchooLinks as its online platform for college and career planning (https://www.schoolinks.com/).

What is the lawsuit/legal settlement about?

There was a class action lawsuit filed against PowerSchool alleging that PowerSchool violated students’ privacy rights while students were using the Naviance Platform between August 2021 and January 2026. PowerSchool firmly denies the allegations in the lawsuit and that it violated the law in any way. PowerSchool has agreed to settle the lawsuit to avoid the expense and uncertainty of ongoing litigation.

Was there a breach or unauthorized disclosure of student data?

There has been no confirmed breach or unauthorized disclosure of student data. PowerSchool firmly denies that it violated the law in any way.

Why am I being contacted?

Students who logged into the Naviance platform at least once between August 18, 2021, and January 23, 2026 are being contacted by e-mail to inform them that they may be eligible to join the proposed class action legal settlement. The e-mail was sent as part of a legally required notification process. The purpose of the e-mail is to ensure that students and families have the opportunity to review the settlement agreement and their legal rights and options.

Is the District involved in the lawsuit?

No. The District is not a party to the lawsuit and has no involvement in the legal proceedings or the proposed class action legal settlement. The District has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

What should families do?

If you or your child received an e-mail notice, you should review the notice carefully, as it outlines potential eligibility, deadlines, and options available to you and your child. The District cannot provide legal advice or recommend whether students are eligible to or should participate in the settlement. This is a personal decision for each family.

To learn more about the lawsuit and your legal rights, families should visit the official settlement website: https://powerschoolnaviancesettlement.com

Families may also contact the Settlement Administrator:

• Call: (833) 447-8852
• Webmail: Kroll “Contact Us” from
• Mail: Q.J. v. PowerSchool Holdings LLC, c/o Kroll Settlement Administration LLC, PO Box 225391, New York, NY 10150-5391

The District is committed to protecting student data privacy and security and complies with all applicable law concerning student data privacy and security, including, but not limited to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”) and New York State Education Law § 2-d. For more information concerning the District’s commitment to the protection of student data privacy and security and the Board of Education’s Information and Data Privacy, Security Breach and Notification Policy (BOE Policy No. 8635), please visit: https://www.libertyk12.org/about-us/annual-notifications/parents-bill-of-rights-for-data-privacy-and-security/

Sullivan County and its jurisdictions have been hard at work this past year to update the Hazard Mitigation Plan.

The plan is now ready for public review, and residents and stakeholders are asked to review the draft plan and provide feedback.

 Visit the Sullivan County page on MitigateNY to review the plan. The Public Review Period is open until June 6. Comments can be made on this form.

Liberty Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan and Assistant Superintendent for Business Laurene McKenna presented information on the proposed 2026-27 school budget during the annual budget hearing on May 5 in the Liberty High School Auditorium.

A recording of the hearing is available.

The proposed $72,032,104 budget increases spending 5.14%, or $3,523,742, and would fund all current student programs and services while accounting for increases in costs such as health care, transportation and contractual obligations.

Based on the governor’s budget proposal’s state aid projections, the district expects an overall increase in state aid of about $1.1 million, with no increase in the tax levy, which would remain at $17,760,162.

There will be two more opportunities for the public to learn more about the proposed budget:

• 5 p.m. Thursday, May 14, in the High School Media Center before the High School Honors Concert
• 8 to 10 a.m. Friday, May 15, at the New Munson Diner at 12 Lake St.

The budget vote and school board election will take place between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 19, in the High School Media Center.

For more information about the budget, the school board election or voting, visit the district’s budget page.

Liberty CSD Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan was elected in April to the governing board of the AASA, The School Superintendents Association.

He will serve a three-year term, July 2026 through June 2029. He will represent New York in Region 7, which includes the Northeast United States.

The 135 members of the Governing Board meet twice per year to set policy for the AASA, the premier association for school system leaders serving as the national voice for public education and district leadership on Capitol Hill.

“Representing our Mid-Hudson region at the national level matters to me,” Dr. Sullivan said. “I want to advocate for our districts, amplify our voices in national discussions, and help Liberty make a meaningful impact beyond our region and state.”