Category: High School News
Proposed upgrades aim to provide safe, comfortable learning environment
Included in Liberty Central School District’s proposed $42.7 million capital project are vital upgrades to heating, plumbing and electrical systems, building repairs and safety enhancements that are vital to creating a comfortable and safe learning environment for the students and staff. Many of the items below were noted in Liberty’s latest state-required building condition survey, completed in 2022.
HVAC
In the three school buildings, heating, ventilation and air conditioning are controlled by outdated, inefficient pneumatic systems. A switch to direct digital control allows for more efficient heating and cooling of our buildings.
Proposed work at the elementary school would also replace the classroom unit ventilators and install a ventilation system in the gymnasium. The old steam boiler that provided heat to the entire building will be converted to hot water, a safer and more efficient system.
Electrical
Emergency generators will be replaced at the middle and high school, as well as in the district office. The middle and high school are deemed emergency shelters, and the district office houses the servers. New generators will help ensure power will be available to this vital systems if power is disrupted.
Electrical upgrades at the Middle School will help address continual electrical issues with the more than 30-year-old building. The 2000A main electrical distribution panel, damaged by water infiltration, has outlived its useful life and a replacement will allow electricity to be more effectively distributed. Site upgrades at the chiller and transformer feed locations at the middle school will mitigate issues with water infiltration into the building.
Hardwired carbon monoxide alarm systems will also be installed in all district buildings. A hardwired system allows for a more reliable system that doesn’t rely on replacing batteries on a regular basis.
Exterior repairs and upgrades
As part of the project, the elementary building facade near the roof will be repaired for preventative maintenance.
At the high school, exterior stairs to the 100/200 and 300 wings that are in disrepair will be replaced, allowing for a safer entry into the building.
The paths to the athletic fields will also be reconstructed to provide for an ADA compliant and safer route for the public to watch our student athletes perform. And when there, new complaint bleachers will allow all members of the community to display their Liberty pride on safe, accessible seating.
Interior upgrades
At the Elementary School, flooring repairs and replacement will address potential safety concerns. Vinyl asbestos tiles in one classroom are deteriorating. If left undisturbed, the tiles do not cause a hazard, but damaged tiles must be removed and properly mitigated. There are also sections of original wood flooring that are uneven and/or deteriorating that will be repaired or replaced and refinished.
Many people enjoy the view from above in the elementary auditorium. However, the railings are not compliant with ADA regulations. The proposed project would address these issues, making the bleachers above safer or more accessible for all who attend the concerts and programs at the elementary school
At the high school, cafeteria and senior lounge renovations are geared toward making the areas a more social and attractive place to gather. The changes also help make the area safer, offering more supervision in the lounge and creating a single point of entry to the dining area.
In the middle school, 41 interior doors will be replaced, and emergency lighting will be updated, creating a safer and more secure building.
Voting will take place from noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16, in the high school gymnasium, with a snow date of Jan. 17, at the same time and location.
For more information, visit the capital project page on Liberty’s website, https://www.libertyk12.org/about-us/capital-project-2023-24/, or ask questions at a community forum or via email at questions@libertyk12.org.
Community events set to provide information on capital project proposal
Liberty Central School District is proposing a nearly $42.7 million capital project that will address safety, efficiency of building systems and educational spaces and meeting the needs of today’s learners for tomorrow’s careers.
The project will go before voters Tuesday, Jan. 16, in the high school gymnasium between noon and 9 p.m. A snow date of Jan. 17 is set. To help inform voters about the proposal, a series of public meetings and presentations will be held in December and January.
The first forum will be held in WJFF’s Community Room at 2758 State Route 52 in Liberty at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20. The public is invited to hear a presentation from district administration and ask questions about the project. A second forum originally scheduled in White Sulphur Springs for Jan. 8 has been canceled.
On Thursday, Jan. 4, Superintendent Dr. Sullivan will offer a virtual presentation on the project via Zoom at 6 p.m. and will answer questions submitted in advance to questions@libertyk12.org. Questions must be submitted by Jan. 3 with “Capital Project” in the subject line. The Zoom link will be listed on the district’s webpage as the event gets closer.
On Wednesday, Jan. 10, the district will host a community forum and question-and-answer session with district administration, representatives from architects CS Arch and a turf specialist. A walkthrough of select project areas will follow the presentation. The Jan. 10 forum and Q&A will be live streamed via LocalLive on the district website. The public is invited to the event, which will begin at 6 p.m. in the high school auditorium.
The Liberty Central School Board of Education and administration, working with CSArch, the construction management team from Schoolhouse Construction Services and Fiscal Advisors, crafted the plan using information gathered in a capacity study, a long-term demographic analysis and the building condition survey conducted during the 2021-22 school year.
More information on the project is available on the district website.
Senior soccer player earns Section 9 All Star honors
Carlos Campos Castro was one of 11 Class A Boys Soccer All Stars by the Section 9 Soccer Coaches Association. He anchored the Redhawks defense all season as centerback. His coach Debbie Simpson said he had good recovery speed, the ability to win 50/50 balls and took the majority of the goal kicks.
“With multiple changes and additions to the back line, Carlos was able to keep the backfield organized while being a strong presence and leader himself,” Simpson said. “Carlos’ defensive ability was noted by opposing coaches and was a definite factor in his selection to the Class A All-Star list.
“We will miss his defensive consistency next year,” she added.
LHS senior uses NASA opportunities to help further her goals beyond the rainbow
Jayla Edwards may have been singing “Somewhere over the Rainbow” this fall, but her goals go far above where any rainbow is found.
The Liberty High School senior, who played Dorothy in the Liberty Performing Arts’ fall production of “The Wizard of Oz,” has taken part in two highly selective experiences that are helping her pursue her career goal of being an aerospace engineer with NASA.
Edwards was one of 95 students, of more than 2,000 applicants, chosen for the NASA’s Science Mission Directorate STEM Enhancement in Earth Science, or SEES, high school internship program onsite at the University of Texas at Austin’s Center for Space Research.
“It was great getting to meet a bunch of people from all around the country with similar interests to mine,” she said.
Her experience there led to an even more exclusive opportunity. She was one of 12 students, of the more than 200 total SEES interns, who were invited to the OSIRIS REx VIP reveal event at NASA Johnson Space Center in October. The selection of students was based on the program mentors’ recommendations as well as the students’ ability to be ambassadors for the SEES program, Edwards said.
“We are so proud of Jayla,” Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said. “We are glad we are able to help her pursue her potential and support her in following her dreams.”
At the SEES program in July, Edwards was part of the Mars Rover Resource Utilization Team, which is similar to NASA missions she wants to be involved in during her career, she said.
The Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security-Regolith Explorer was the first mission by the United States to collect a materials sample from an asteroid. The sample from asteroid Bennu was dropped to Earth via a parachute during a flyby of the spacecraft on Sept. 24. The samples were officially revealed to the public on Oct. 11.
Beyond being able to be present at this moment in history, Edwards was able to learn more about NASA and get a close up look at the facilities that help bring the space missions to life.
“My favorite one was the Neutral Buoyancy Lab,” she said. “It was really cool to see the pool where the astronauts work and learn about some of the things that are done there.”
Edwards has also been invited to present her Mars Rover project work, as well as another project she worked on at SEES, at the American Geophysical Union’s annual meeting this winter.
Edwards wasn’t always looking toward the skies for her career. Initially she wanted to go into neuroscience.
“I was and still am extremely interested in the brain and how it works,” she said. “I wanted to do more research on the brain and neurological disorders but soon realized that anything having to do with biology was probably not for me, since I can’t wrap my head around the subject.
“I chose aerospace engineering because it allowed me to explore something just as perplexing and interesting using two of my favorite subjects, math and science, without having to worry about biology,” she continued. “I have also always been interested in space so when I discovered this career, it just seemed like a perfect fit.”
Edwards has been a Liberty student most of her life, except for two years at Fallsburg in elementary school. She said her science teachers have been great influences.
“Mr. (Eugene) Doyle helped make science a lot of fun for me and my classmates,” Edwards said. “Mrs. (Lucinda) Nolan mentored Science Olympiad, and being in that club and learning and researching about different areas of science helped a lot. Science Olympiad ultimately gave me the push to apply to the SEES internship.”
While her love of science extends outside of the classroom, her extracurricular life doesn’t revolve around it. She is a member of the National Honor Society, the LPA and Liberty High School’s Honors Chorus and Honors Orchestra.
Although she doesn’t yet know where she will be going to college — Rochester Institute of Technology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University are her favorites — her ultimate goal is to work for NASA. And while traveling to outer space would be interesting, she said, she plans to keep her feet firmly planted on the ground while helping others explore the universe over the rainbow.
Liberty BOE reviews capital project proposal
Liberty Central School District Board of Education on Tuesday, Oct. 10, reviewed an updated capital project proposal that addresses safety, efficiency and meeting the needs of today’s learners, and is not expected to have any tax impact on district taxpayers.
CSArch, an architecture, engineering and construction management firm, working with the construction management firm Schoolhouse Construction, has been working with the district to recommend upgrades to the district’s aging buildings and systems. The original part of the elementary school is around 100 years old and once housed the entire district population. Two additions were built later. The high school is 60 years old, and the middle school was constructed in the early 1990s.
The following is included in the nearly $42.7 million proposal:
High School Building Improvements (about $14.98 million)
- Exterior stair replacement
- 300 Wing renovations, including additional classroom space and upgrades to the counseling suite
- Cafeteria renovations
- Innovation Lab renovations
- Replace emergency generator
- Hardwired carbon monoxide alarm systems
- HVAC controls upgrades (Pneumatics to Direct Digital Control)
High School: Athletic/Site Improvements (about $6.88 million)
- Resurfacing the running track
- Artificial turf multi-sport playing field (with drainage)
- Slot drains at track perimeter
- Replace the long-jump
- New concrete sidewalk for ADA accessibility
- New bleachers
- New press box
- Audio, lighting and scoreboard improvements
- Field lighting
Middle School (about $3.61 million)
- Interior door replacements (41 doors total)
- HVAC controls upgrades (Pneumatics to Direct Digital Control)
- Site electric upgrades to address water infiltration into building
- Replace 2000A main electrical distribution panel
- Emergency lighting upgrades
- New Emergency Generator
- Hardwired carbon monoxide alarm systems
Elementary School (about $13.93 million)
- Roofing repairs and upgrades
- Hazardous materials abatement (VAT Floor Tile)
- Wood flooring replacement
- Compliant railings at interior bleachers
- Classroom Unit Vent Replacements
- Boiler Conversions (steam to hot water)
- Gymnasium Ventilation System Upgrades
- HVAC Controls Upgrades
- Hardwired Carbon Monoxide Alarm Systems
Central Administrative Offices (about $265,000)
- New Emergency Generator
- Hardwired Carbon Monoxide Alarm Systems
Storage Building (about $3.03 million)
The proposal also includes additional funds for the district-wide maintenance building that voters approved in 2021. Because of supply chain issues that increased costs of materials and increases in labor rates, bids for the building came in significantly higher than anticipated. Costs are not expected to drop and renovations for a new Innovation Lab are contingent on the relocation of Buildings and Grounds into the new storage building. The proposal includes an additional $1.56 million for the construction of the maintenance building, bringing the total to $3.03 million, reflecting the current material and labor market. The original referendum will be rescinded. The district is also exploring options for alternative construction methods to reduce costs while maintaining the same quality and durability of the building.
The presentation to the board can be seen here
The board is expected to vote on a resolution authorizing a public referendum, expected this winter, at an upcoming meeting.
LCSD Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan will present the proposal at the Liberty Town Board meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16, at the town offices at 120 N. Main St. District officials are planning additional community meetings, tours and more to inform the public about the proposal. The dates will be announced as they are scheduled.
LHS teaching assistant earns MHSSC honor
Teaching Assistant Nancy Katzenberger will be honored later this fall as one the recipients of the Mid-Hudson School Study Council’s Support Staff Award for Excellence in Education.
Katzenberger recently began her 27th year at Liberty High School.
“Nancy has the aptitude, ability and motivation to assist with all aspects of learning throughout our high school and has been a model employee,” High School Principal Derek Adams said in the nomination letter.
For many years she assisted in the earth science classes before helping in the life skills class two years ago. There she helps students realize their potential by acting as a role model, and she is an invaluable support when teaching students the necessary competencies for being an independent adult.
Her dedication to Liberty goes beyond the students. She is a member of the LHS Building Leadership Team, president of her collective bargaining unit and volunteers her time to the monthly building safety team meetings. As an extension of the safety role, Katzenberger served on the COVID reopening team, which created and executed plans to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also often volunteers to serve on hiring committees as well as other service orientation opportunities.
“What strikes me most about Nancy is her willingness to do what is best for the students, our school and the district,” Adams said. “Ms. Katzenberger is a model support staff member and the epitome of a recipient for an award based in educational excellence.”
The MHSSC awards for administration, pupil personnel services and support staff services will be presented Nov. 1 at The Barn at Villa Venezia in Middletown. The school board service and community service awards will be presented in the spring
Special education teacher, former coach to be honored by SCSBA
Two people who have had a positive impact on Liberty Central School District will be honored next month by the Sullivan County School Boards Association.
Special education teacher Jill Weiner will be presented with an Outstanding Educator Award, and former mathematics teacher and coach Ralph Bressler will receive an Outstanding Friend to Education Award.
“Liberty Central School District could not be more proud to honor these well-deserved individuals who have dedicated their careers to making Liberty a great place to learn,” Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said.
Jill Weiner
Weiner has been a special education teacher for more than 30 years—27 of them at Liberty. A special education teacher for a multi-grade self-contained class at Liberty Middle School for the past four years, she has taught at various grade levels kindergarten through eighth grade.. As a special education teacher, Weiner “strives to differentiate instruction, for all of her students to benefit, and plans learning activities to maintain motivation and engagement,” Middle School Principal Heather Cheh said in her nomination letter.
In addition to academic instruction, Weiner arranges for her students to perform hands-on activities, such as running a Class Cafe. The cafe includes preparing food, serving customers and cleaning up. Further, her multi-grade self-contained class creates and hosts thematic bingo games for other students. She and her students plan virtual cooking nights, where they can meet outside of the classroom and cook together.
Community service is also a theme in her classroom. Students help in preparing “snack packs” for the Liberty Middle School, create holiday gifts for the homeless, design games and signs for community events, as well as make holiday cards for veterans.
As an advocate for individuals with special needs, Weiner consistently offers support to the parents of her students, and when applicable, provides resources to help them receive services outside of the school for their children.
Ralph Bressler
Bressler taught mathematics in Liberty for more than 30 years and was a coach for just as long. He retired teaching before he retired coaching, ending his coaching career in the spring.
“I could just as well be writing this recommendation for Mr. Bressler to receive the outstanding educator award if he were still formally teaching,” High School Principal Derek Adams said in his nomination letter.. “He has never detached himself from the art and science of teaching through coaching and other avenues.”
His service to the district goes beyond the classroom and coaching. He serves as the scorekeeper and national anthem singer for Liberty basketball games. For years, he also served as the district’s webmaster, taking special care to promote athletic programs. A certified emergency medical technician, Bressler used his skills to provide coaches required first aid and CPR training.
Experiencing many athletic director transitions, Bressler also made sure that the person was supported, understood the history of the programs, and that students were being given opportunities through athletics. He also consistently held students accountable for their academic success while promoting their athletic endeavors.
“Mr. Bressler, as a model of lifelong learning, has challenged himself to learn something new or take on another challenge,” Adams said. For example, Bressler agreed to take on a chemistry teaching position for a year and a half until a permanent hire was found, despite not having taught chemistry in several decades. He dedicated many hours refining his chemistry knowledge, searching for laboratory experiences and updating the course materials.
The awards will be presented at an Oct. 18 banquet at the Villa Roma in Callicoon.
LHS earns place on US News Best High School ranking
Liberty High School was ranked in US News and World Reports’ 2023-24 Best High Schools listing.
“We are proud to be ranked in the top half of schools in New York and among the top 40% in the nation,” Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said.
LHS was 549 of 1,198 ranked schools within New York, and 6,214 of 17,680 in the national ranking. Schools are ranked on their performance on state-required tests, based on testing from 2019, graduation rates and how well they prepare students for college.
The Advanced Placement participation rate at Liberty High School is 19%, with 13% of students passing at least one AP exam. The high school had proficiency rates of 80% in mathematics, 86% in reading and 75% in science, all higher than the state average.
Regents scores were well above U.S. News’ expectations, according to information provided by the organization. However, the LHS graduation rate was 82% (slightly below the state median), and college readiness index was 14.6 of 100, based 25% on the AP or IB participation rate and 75% on the quality-adjusted AP or IB participation rate.
The total minority enrollment is 58%, and 60% of students are economically disadvantaged.
To see more on what factored into Liberty High School’s ranking, click here. More information about how US News compiled the ranking is available here.
“This ranking shows we are making progress on improving the educational experience for our students,” Sullivan said. “Our five year-strategic plan will help us continue our improvement.”
Conference days kick off the new year for faculty, staff
Faculty, staff and administration spent the past two days gearing up to welcome students back to school.
The first of two conference days opened with keynote speaker Erica Orange, executive vice president and chief operating officer of The Future Hunters, one of the world-leading futurist consulting firms. Her presentation, “Failing Forward: The Future of Learning” focused on looking to the future of education, identifying trends and how to strategize how to most effectively support students and LCSD’s vision of cultivating trust and courage to be innovative and to persevere. She discussed how Gen Z is different from past generations and how that generation and future ones are developing biliterate brains — those that can think in the physical and digital realms. The increased use of automation and augmented and artificial intelligence is changing the way educators must think about teaching and learning, she said.
After a welcome and introduction by Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan, BOE President Matt DeWitt and various school union leaders, new members of the Liberty Central School District were introduced and staff members who have years of service milestones were recognized. The superintendent then reviewed the five-year strategic plan, outlined what has been accomplished and offered an overview of what the next steps will be.
There were also presentations on mental health as well as a technology overview. Following meetings and lunch, the afternoon offered time for faculty and staff to work on their classrooms and buildings and complete training.
The second day of conference days included building-specific training, information and meetings as well as overviews of district-wide programs and policies.
We are excited to welcome back our students today, Sept. 7.
New teachers learn more about LCSD at orientation
New teachers were welcomed to Liberty Central School District on Wednesday, Aug. 30, with a full day of introductions, instruction and icebreaker activities.
The 16 newest Redhawk faculty members met in the High School Media Center where they signed in, got their Chromebooks and were treated to breakfast.
The day began with opening remarks by Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan, who also introduced the administrative team. He then outlined the philosophy of having permission to “fail forward,” meaning it is OK to fail at something as long as the failure is accepted and used as a stepping stone for future success.
The teachers learned about the district’s Five-Year Strategic Plan, as well as the annual District Comprehensive Improvement Plan and building level plans, and discussed why they were important. They also received an overview of the Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) process, SchoolTool, the DESSA social/emotional learning screener and other educational digital platforms, Leader in Me, Special Education, English as a New Language and Students in Temporary Housing, as well as technology information such as passwords, security and help desk information. The mentor-mentee program, required for all first-year teachers, offered at Liberty was highlighted during the orientation.
As a way to get to know each other early in the day, teachers paired up and were given 10 minutes to learn more about each other and then introduced their partners to the rest of the group.
The interaction continued throughout the day, especially during the program led by Betsy Conners, a PLC consultant. She addressed issues such as culturally sustaining education, professional learning communities, learning standards, learning targets and essential questions, and offered several group activities to help bring home her messages.
The day concluded with a look at “Overview of The First Days of School” by Harry Wong, which explains why some practices stand the test of time and offers suggestions on how to use them.
The teachers then wrote a letter to themselves, asking them what is their “Why” and where they expect to be at winter break, in respect to their strengths, accomplishments, instructional strategies and more. These letters will be returned to them at the end of the school year, offering them a chance to reflect on their first year at Liberty.
The goal of the new teacher orientation was to increase understanding of the processes and procedures at Liberty, inline with the coherence pillar of the strategic plan.