Category: High School News
Liberty Public Library to have budget vote, trustee election
Liberty Public Library will have its 2026-27 budget vote and trustee election from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 7.
The vote will be held in the lower level Program Room at the Library at 189 N. Main St.
Absentee and early mail voting options are available.
For more information, call the library at 845-292-6070, or visit the library’s website.
LPD to host annual Litter Pluck
Liberty Police Department invites all residents to join in to help create a cleaner and more beautiful village during LPD’s fifth annual Litter Pluck.
The event will take place between 9 a.m. and noon Saturday, April 4, with a rain date of Sunday, April 12.
Drinks and snacks will be provided by the Police Benevolent Association. Those who wish to take part should meet behind the Liberty Police Department on North Main Street. Gloves, bags and pickers will be provided.
LCS Interact Club presents to Rotary, looks to future
The Liberty Central School Interact Club members recently presented to the Liberty Rotary Club, highlighting their accomplishments this year and their plans through the end of 2026.
Interact members continue to be enthusiastic and dedicated partners, eager to support Rotary—especially in helping operate the Rotary Games at community events. This year, they also assisted with the annual Liberty Rotary Spaghetti Dinner and played a key role in the Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser, which successfully raised funds for the purchase of a Book Vending Machine at the Liberty Middle School..
Looking ahead, the Interact Club will soon install a Little Free Library at Liberty High School. As part of this project, students developed and delivered a presentation to the Liberty Board of Education to gain approval, demonstrating leadership, initiative and strong communication skills. They are now preparing to purchase and install the library.
In addition, Interact members are giving back through service by collecting hygiene items to assemble care bags for Fearless. Students who attended Rotary Youth Leadership Awards shared their experiences, expressed their gratitude to the Liberty Rotary Club, and will be presenting to the sophomore class in April.
The Interact Club also demonstrated its commitment to community support by contributing a $500 sponsorship to the Bowls and Bites Fundraiser for A Single Bite.
The Interact Club looks forward to continuing its strong partnership with the Liberty Rotary Club and expanding its impact in the community.
In recognition of their hard work and participation in the Spaghetti Dinner, the Liberty Rotary Club presented the Interact Club with a check for $916.
Foster parent training to be offered
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
Library to host story times, creation station
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.
Smoke alarm activation causes brief evacuation at high school
Today, March 23, at approximately 2:15 p.m., the smoke alarm system was activated near the high school cafeteria. The alarm was triggered by kitchen staff preparing items for an upcoming school function; there was no actual fire or danger to the building.
In accordance with the district’s safety protocols, all students and faculty evacuated the building quickly and efficiently. At approximately 2:25 p.m, the building was cleared for re-entry, and instructional activities resumed.
The district thanked the staff and students for their cooperation and for following evacuation procedures so effectively.
Town, village to host Joint Comprehensive Plan meeting
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.”
Liberty esports team offers students camaraderie, competition
The latest sport at Liberty High School doesn’t involve bats, balls or seeing who can run the fastest or jump the highest, but it does require concentration, quick reflexes and a competitive spirit.
Liberty’s inaugural sports team formed this winter, with the Redhawk’s first competition held Feb. 24. The seeds of the team were planted during interest meetings last school year. Led by advisers/coaches Ms. Amanda Jackson and Ms. Keysy Mendez, the team began practices in January to compete in the Empire State Scholastic Esports Federation..
The ESSEF includes more than 100 schools across the state in various games. Liberty competes in Marvel Rivals team play, Smash Ultimate solo matches and Rocket League 3v3. The Federation also offers Smash Ultimate 3v3 and Mario Kart 8. Liberty has only two Nintendo Switches at this point, but the goal is to get more equipment to be able to compete in all divisions, Ms. Jackson said.
The team includes about a dozen students in ninth through 12th grades and meets daily. Like traditional sports, they work on a schedule. Monday is Rivals practice, with the match the following day. Wednesday is Smash match day, and Rocket League matches are on Thursdays. Fridays are reserved for makeup days, practice and free play. The teams also review after each of their matches.
Students are assigned to teams, but they all have a chance to compete, Ms. Jackson said. A gamer herself, she said she sees the team as a place for students of all backgrounds to find a place to excel.
“Who doesn’t play video games?” she said. “This is something they can do that they are good at.”
Many players also participate in traditional sports, creating a mix of athletes and gamers
Besides playing on each of the esports teams, sophomore Mason Williams competes in track, basketball and football for Liberty.
“There are some people who aren’t able to do physical sports and they are better at video games than physical sports,” he said.
And while competition is the common denominator, he said the esports team has a different vibe.
“In other sports you do one thing wrong and get criticized,” he said. “It’s just a game, but we (esports) have better communication as a team than other sports.”
It’s more than a team, he said, “It’s a family, almost,” adding he’s learned a lot more about his teammates.
He said playing on the esports team has widened his worldview. “I feel like I shouldn’t limit myself to the people around me,” he said.
But while it is “only games,” it still is something to take seriously.
Ms. Jackson said esports is a growing industry. It draws hundreds of millions of views on professional matches each year, and some top prizes go beyond $20 million.
“They are just like professional sports athletes,” she said. “Starting at the high school level opens more doors for these students.”
What does the future hold for the team? Individual growth is certain, as Ms. Jackson said they are learning every day. They hope to win enough match points to compete in ESSEF championships in April. And unlike other sports, there are two seasons per year at the high school level. Ms. Jackson said she hopes interest in the team grows and more opportunities are available for students to play in the fall.
The team may be new, but it’s already giving Liberty students a chance to compete, to belong, and to grow in a fast‑evolving sport.
LES kindergarten registration to open April 1
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.
Message from the superintendent (video)
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: