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 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.

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.

Pre-K registration for the 2026-27 school year began March 2 at Liberty Central School District.

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

All eligible applications received by March 31 will be included in a lottery, to be held April 10, if needed. Any applications filed after March 31, and those not selected in the lottery, will be added to a waitlist. All slots will be full day.

Pre-K registration is held at Liberty School District’s Registration Office, 115 Buckley St., Liberty. To make an appointment call Heather Austin at 845-292-5400, ext. 2331.

Families are asked to bring the following to their appointment, along with a completed pre-k registration packet:

• A copy of the parent/guardian’s photo ID
• The child’s birth certificate
• Proof of residency (such as a utility bill or rental lease)
• Immunization records, including proof of lead screen
• Copy of a recent physical exam (must include all school physical exam requirements; please check with doctor)
• The child’s health insurance card
• Custody papers, if applicable

Because of the blizzard warning and state of emergency, the closure today, Feb. 23, did not count toward Liberty Central School District’s allotted emergency closure days. The district has two of our eight emergency closure days remaining.

If the district uses all of its emergency days, the district will transition to remote learning if weather or other situations require the buildings to be closed.

Liberty will communicate its intention to use remote learning days, if the potential situation arises. The LCSD remote learning plan is available on the website.

Questions may be directed to questions@libertyk12.org.

Liberty Central School District has been made aware of a video social media post by a former employee of the district’s transportation partner, Rolling V,  reporting that Liberty Central School students making derogatory comments toward each other.

The district does not condone this behavior and is investigating the incident, and it will be handled according to the LCSD Code of Conduct.

“We appreciate the diversity of our community and take our commitment to the Dignity for All Students Act seriously,” Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said. Students who feel they are being targeted or bullied can reach out to the DASA coordinator in their building or fill out a DASA complaint form and the district will investigate. Concerns from students, staff and community members may also be filed through the district’s Anonymous Alerts reporting system.

Those with questions may email questions@libertyk12.org.

Liberty Central School District is aware of increases in Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities across the state and nation, raising concerns among many families in the LCSD community. The goal of the district is to make the learning environment a safe one for all Redhawk students.

The district is appreciative of the diverse community that comprises the district is committed to providing all students a quality education. As part of the commitment, the district embraces the Parent Bill of Rights for New York State’s English Language Learners. The District’s English as a New Language webpage has more information and resources.

Liberty Central School District is resharing a list of frequently asked questions regarding the rights of migrant and immigrant students.

Frequently Asked Questions Concerning Rights of Immigrant Students

Does immigration status impact a student’s right to education in New York State?

No. Under New York law, all students ages 5 to 21 who have not received a high school diploma are entitled to a free public education in the district in which they live. Liberty Central School District (“LCSD”) will not refuse admission to any student based on national origin, race, language proficiency, country of origin, immigration status, or any other legally protected characteristic.

Must LCSD immediately enroll migrant students?

Yes. Consistent with law, LCSD will immediately enroll migrant students, even if they lack proof of residency, immunizations, school records, or other documents typically required for registration. LCSD may allow students who are from out of state or county to attend school for up to 30 calendar days if the student does not have immunization documentation but there is evidence of a good faith effort to obtain immunizations.

Are there any documents LCSD may not ask for when a student seeks to enroll in one of its schools?

Yes. LCSD may not request a Social Security Card or number, or any information that would reveal immigration status of the student or the student’s parent/guardian or person in parental relation at the time of enrollment.

What will LCSD do if it receives a request from an ICE or other law enforcement officer to access student records?

Absent parent/guardian or eligible student (age 18 or older) consent, LCSD may only release student records to an ICE or other law enforcement officer where the officer has a court order or a lawfully issued subpoena. If LCSD is legally required to disclose student records, LCSD will attempt to notify the parent/guardian or eligible student of the court order or subpoena before disclosing the records (unless the court order or subpoena prohibits LCSD from doing so).

What will LCSD do if an ICE or other law enforcement officer demands to question a student on school property and/or remove a student from school property?

Generally, ICE and other law enforcement officers may only question a student on school property or remove a student from school property (1) where they have a lawfully issued warrant providing court-authorized access to a student; (2) with consent from a parent/guardian; or (3) if the student is accused of committing a crime on school property and school or LCSD personnel invite law enforcement officers to investigate. If none of these criteria are met, LCSD will not permit officers to speak or access the student on school property.

What will LCSD do if a School Resource Officer (“SRO”) requests to access a student’s records to determine a student’s immigration status?

LCSD has a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with the Village of Liberty Police Department and the Village of Liberty outlining the duties of SROs and the scope of SRO responsibilities at LCSD. The MOU can be accessed on the LCSD’s website.  

Consistent with the MOU, an SRO may not access a student’s education records for the purpose of determining a student’s immigration status. If an SRO obtains information about a student’s immigration status, the SRO is not authorized to re-disclose that information to other law enforcement officers or federal immigration officials.

What will LCSD do if an SRO demands to question a student on school property about the student’s immigration status?

Consistent with the MOU, SROs cannot detain or otherwise interrogate a student for the purpose of determining the student’s (or their family’s) immigration status.

What happens if a student is being harassed, bullied, or discriminated against based on their actual or perceived immigration status?

Federal law, New York State law, and LCSD policy prohibit harassment, bullying, and discrimination based on actual or perceived race, color, national origin, ethnic group, citizen or immigration status, and any other legally protected characteristic. Consistent with LCSD’s Dignity for All Students Act Policy, LCSD is committed to creating a school environment free from harassment, bullying, and discrimination. If LCSD receives information that harassment, bullying, or discrimination has or is occurring, it will investigate the situation and discipline offenders consistent with LCSD policy.

For more information or resources, families may reach out to the district’s Student Services and School Counseling/Guidance Offices. Further questions may be emailed to questions@libertyk12.org.