Category: High School News
Free meals for children to be available
Liberty Central School District will again offer free summer meals to all children 18 and younger through the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program.
Starting June 30, sit-down and bagged breakfasts and lunches will be served at Francis A. Hanofee Park at 136 Sunset Lake Road in Liberty. Breakfast will be served from 8 to 9 a.m., with lunch served from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Meals will be served weekdays, except Friday, July 4, through Aug. 18 at the park. From Aug. 18 to 22, meals will be served at Liberty Elementary, with breakfast offered from 8:15 to 9 a.m. and breakfast from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
A link to the menus will be available on the district website’s Food Services Department page when they are available.
For more information, contact Assistant Superintendent for Business Laurene McKenna at 845-292-6171 or lmmckenna@libertyk12.org.
Athletic field improvements begin at Liberty
With shovels in hand and hard hats on, several Liberty Redhawk student-athletes ceremoniously broke ground on the new athletic facility on the middle/high school campus on Friday, June 13.
The groundbreaking was held to mark the start of the first phase of construction of the capital project approved by Liberty Central School District voters in January 2024.
Among the improvements to the area that currently holds the track and football field are a new turf field that will be used by football and soccer teams, new bleachers and grandstand, a new pressbox, a new scoreboard and lighting.
After the national anthem was played by student-athlete and trumpeter Luis Molina-Gonzalez, LCSD Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan welcomed those in attendance.
“This project represents opportunity, growth, and a commitment to the future of Liberty,” he said. “It stands as a testament to the hard work, determination, and shared dreams of so many people.”
The improvements will have many benefits, the student-athletes said.
“With a turf field we would not have to worry so much about weather,” football player Tayler Schwartz said. “With the addition of the lights to this field, we will be able to create a more flexible schedule for all of our sports so that our students wouldn’t have to leave their classes so early,”
The turf field will level competition against powerhouses in their league, soccer player Justin Simon said. “While hard work, love of the game and determination of the athletes and coaches has gotten us this far, having regular use of a turf field will allow us to elevate our game play and help us to compete on an even playing field with the rest of our league.”
The new field and track will also be able to be used by community organizations, including youth and travel teams. Allowing programs such as Liberty United, a feeder program for Liberty Redhawk soccer, year-round use will “allow us to now diversify our skill and ability to play on different kinds of fields,” Elizabeth “Licha” Cruz Cruz said.
But the new facility is more than a playing field, the students said.
“For us athletes, this means more than a track, turf, jumping areas and bleachers,” said Brook Bull, representing the track and field team. “It’s where we learn discipline, teamwork and resilience. Where we show up early, stay late, build friendships, push our limits, and sometimes fall short, only to come back stronger.”
Dr. Sullivan thanked those involved in the project: the Board of Education, architect LAN Associates and their partners, Gerard Associates, LA Group, Construction Manager School House, Clark Companies, Southern Bleachers, Musco Lighting, Assistant Superintendent for Business Laurene McKenna, administration, faculty, coaches, staff, state and local officials, students and the Liberty community.
The athletic field and track area was closed to the public following the groundbreaking. Construction will begin on Monday, June 16.
The turf field is expected to be completed in time to play a few games in the 2025-26 school year, with other improvements going into 2027.
The first phase of the capital project also includes construction of the maintenance building; upgrades to the HVAC controls at the middle and high school; upgrades to the carbon monoxide alarm system and replacement of exterior stairs at the high school; and replacements of some interior doors at the middle school.
For more information on the project, visit the district’s Capital Project page.
LHS junior to perform solo with Sullivan County Chamber Orchestra
Liberty High School junior Genna DeFrank will be a featured soloist during the Sullivan County Chamber Orchestra’s family concert, “Peter and the Wolf,” at 6 p.m. Saturday, June 7, at St. John’s Episcopal Church.
A cellist, Genna played in the pit for the LHS school musical and is a regular guest artist with the Sullivan County Community Chorus. She became involved with Nesin Cultural Arts, based in Monticello, last summer and plans to continue pursuing cello in college, with a minor in music.
Genna is one of four students in the Aspiring Young Musicians program, an SCCO Educates initiative, who auditioned and were selected to perform in one of the two final concerts of the season.
St. John’s Episcopal Church is at 15 St. John St. in Monticello. The concert is free with a $25 suggested donation at the door.
LCSD music education honored for sixth consecutive year by NAMM Foundation
For the sixth year in a row, Liberty Central School District has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from the NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education.
To qualify for the Best Communities designation, Liberty answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program and community music-making programs. Responses were verified by school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.
“Music education is essential to the development of the whole child. It nurtures creativity, builds discipline, strengthens cognitive and motor skills, and promotes emotional expression,” LCSD Director of Music Eric Aweh said. “Participation in music fosters collaboration, boosts confidence and cultivates a sense of community. Through music, students learn not only how to create and perform, but also how to listen, lead and connect. A well-rounded education is incomplete without the inclusion of the arts, and music is a vital part of that foundation.”
Liberty musicians and vocalists take part in a variety of events throughout the year, including concerts, ensembles, parades, all-county and all-state events, and the Liberty Jazz Festival. On Wednesday, June 11, the LCSD Music Department will host its annual Liberty Music and Community Festival at 4:30 p.m. in Lapolt Park. The rain date is Friday, June 13.
“The educational experience would not be complete without music,” Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said. “We appreciate the NAMM Foundation’s continued recognition of our dedication to providing a quality music education for our students.”
Now in its 26th year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students. The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants. For more information about The NAMM Foundation, visit www.nammfoundation.org.
Liberty CSD voters approve $68.5M school budget proposal, $7.5M capital project
On Tuesday, May 20, voters in the Liberty Central School District approved, 658-131, the district’s $68.5 million budget proposal for the 2025-26 school year.
“We thank the residents of Liberty Central School District for their continued support so we can empower our students to contribute and thrive in a diverse community by pursuing their potential,” Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said. “We are also happy we could present a budget that, for the seventh year in a row, did not increase the tax levy.”
The $68,508,362 budget funds all current student programs and services as the district continues its vertical and horizontal alignment of curriculum, adding the curriculum management platform Eduplanet to aid in curriculum mapping. The district is also expanding partnerships with colleges and universities to offer additional credit-bearing classes for high school students.
Voters also approved a nearly $7.5 million capital project, 616-167. The project will add air conditioning to the elementary school to address recent state legislation that sets 88 degrees as the maximum temperature in educational and support services spaces. The project also includes related boiler and electrical upgrades. There is no expected tax levy impact, as fund balances will be used to offset the costs not covered by state reimbursements.
“We are glad that this project was approved so that we can help keep our students cool in a more cost-effective manner by working this into our ongoing project,” Dr. Sullivan said.
Three board of education members were elected to three-year terms on the board. John L. Nichols with 761 votes, Timothy Hamblin with 759 votes and Matthew DeWitt with 762 votes Also on the ballot were: Miriam Rivka Singer who received 28 votes, and Miriam Heimlich who received 27 votes. Six write-in votes were also cast: four for Richard Ienuso and one each for Mike Grosman and Pamela Hamlin.
Groundbreaking set for Phase 1 of capital project
Dirt will soon be moved for the Liberty Central School District capital project that was approved by voters in January 2024. Following final approval by the state Education Department earlier this month, Phase 1 of the project is set to begin on June 16.
A ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony will take place at the football field at 9 a.m. Friday, June 13, featuring officials from the district as well as project partners construction management firm Schoolhouse Construction, design and architecture firm LAN Associates, and construction firm Clark Companies, who is contracted to complete the work for the athletic field improvements..
Phase1 of the project includes construction of the maintenance building; athletic facility improvements, including the installation of a new synthetic turf field, track and field improvements, installation of a grandstand and press box, and installation of new athletic field lighting; upgrades to the HVAC controls at the middle and high school; upgrades to the carbon monoxide alarm system and replacement of exterior stairs at the high school; and replacements of some interior doors at the middle school.
Retesting shows lead levels in water below action level at Liberty schools
On May 2, Liberty Central School District completed follow up testing on 10 sinks that were found to have lead levels above action level during lead in water testing in April.
Following remediation, water from all 10 sinks was retested and all locations were found to have levels below the action level of 5 parts per billion.
More information and links to the full first and second round reports are available here.
Dozens earn Stellar Student honors at LHS
The following students earned Stellar Student status for the third marking period at Liberty High School.
Students earn Stellar Student honors for being referral free have five or fewer excused lates and no unexcused lates, two or fewer excused absences and no unexcused absences, a 75 or above quarter average and no failures or incompletes.
12th grade: Christian Aucaquizhpi Perez, Yordy Benitez, Alexia Caiza Viracocha, Noah Call, Eugene Davis-Andino, Faith Fitzgerald, Gianna Lewis, Brenna Mangan, Sierra Norris and Rita Zheng.
11th grade: Jake Cross, Genna DeFrank, Giada DeFrank, Eli Desrochers, Allison Diaz Lopez, Jacob Kelly, Zane Kip, DaShaun Loyce, Arwyn Lucero-Bonilla, Angelina Magie, Quelin Molina Gavilan, William Pennell, Brooke Porter, Randy Romero-Bello, Jaidon Simmons, Justin Simon and Angela Wheeler.
10th grade: Derrick Aliers Amparo, Olivia Corrigan, Riley Cox, Liliana Crespo, Mariah Edwards, Angel Figueroa, Yamilet Garcia Gonzalez, Peyton Hadjstylianos, Jhosmery Jadan Pangolo, Misael Juarez Perez, Bartlomiej Klys, Audrey Krum, Kevin Leon Gavilan, Jeremiah McLeod, Katherine Panama Guaillazaca, Lucio Ponce Vazquez, Jordan Smith, Allison Vasko and Jireth Zambrano Laines.
Ninth grade: Brandon Amador, Keven Cordero Lima, Jayden Diaz, Sophia Duarte, McKayla Figueroa, Hunter Kavleski, Radek Klys, Shea-Leigh Kristiansen, Justin Lima Cedeno, Danna Lopez Ojeda, Evelyn Molina Ax, Baileigh Steinberg, William Vargas-Martin and Jackson Wilson.
Liberty names new high school principal
On Tuesday, May 6, the Liberty Central School Board appointed Liberty High School Assistant Principal Stephen Matuszak as LHS principal, effective July 1. He will replace Dr. Derek Adams, who was named assistant superintendent.
Mr. Matuszak has served as assistant principal at LHS since April 2020.
He grew up in the Binghamton, New York, area. He began his educational career as a substitute in the Maine-Endwell school district after earning a bachelor’s degree in secondary education with a focus in social studies from Mansfield University in Pennsylvania.
Mr. Matuszak moved to Sullivan County in 2007 to take a seventh and eighth grade social studies teaching position at RJK Middle School in the Monticello Central School District, where he also was a coach. He was the school’s behavior specialist his final year. He also earned a master’s degree from the University of Scranton in curriculum development and design, and completed his certificate of advanced studies in educational leadership from SUNY New Paltz in 2019.
A Liberty resident, he is married and has two daughters.
More than 200 students earn honors at LHS
The following students were named to the honor rolls for the third marking period at Liberty High School. High Honor Roll students must have attained a marking period average of 90 or better and have no failing or incomplete grades. Honor Roll students must have attained a marking period average of 85 or better and have no failing or incomplete grades.
12th grade
High Honor: Elmida Aguilar Reyes, Quinn Allen, Franki Alvarado, Endya Alvarez, Guillermo Arauz Gonzalez, Kaitlyn Bodolosky, Lewis Bound, Alexia Caiza Viracocha, Noah Call, Andres Castillo Hernandez, Braedan Clarke, Cathy Delgado-Flores, Colin Doeinch, James Dworetsky, Sara Fajardo Reyes, Sophia Ferguson, Faith Fitzgerald, Lianna Gissentaner, Wyatt Green, Sandra Hanofee, Jordan Hewlett, Gianna Journet, Alex Kearney, Joshua Kratz, Carla Lara Fernandez, Kenisha Ledoux, Gianna Lewis, Jordan Loucks, Skylar Loyce, Addison Makky, Brenna Mangan, Colin Mangan, Matthew McKoy, Andrew McPhillips, Luis Molina Gonzalez, Owen Moore, Sierra Norris, Liam Parks, Jeferson Pineda Monzon, Wenifer Ramos Mata, Joshuaj Reyes Escobedo, Megan Schmidt, Mason Smith, Angel Valladares, Austin Werlau, Cameryn Will, Mykenzi Williams, Hannah Wormuth, Rachel Yaun and Rita Zheng.
Honor: Yedrick Aliers Cruz, Christian Aucaquizhpi Perez, Ayaan Awais, Jackson Bustillo Martinez, Winsley Caiza Viracocha, Yelsin Cruz Marin, Eugene Davis-Andino, Jose Galeas Aguilar, Bryan Garzon, Gabriella Gentile, Anjay Harripersad, Ashley Jordan, Jack Krum, Kimberlin , Malaga Gonzalez, Adamaris Navarro-Leon, Gerson Nolasco Monroy, Iris Ogden, Luis Otero Jr., Melody Rivera, Christopher Rodgers, David Sellers, Ashley Szuba, Konnar Williams and Kyra Wingert.
11th grade
High Honor: Maliea Agapito, Sheyla Anguisaca-Llanos, Carmela Burgio, Kamoren Connell, Genna DeFrank, Giada DeFrank, Cameron Degroat, Eli Desrochers, Allisson Diaz Lopez, Christopher DiBartolo, Adrian Ferguson, Lia Guillerme, Jaspreet Kaur, Jacob Kelly, Kaley Klein, Lincoln Klein, Belen Leon Martinez, John Palacios Medrano, William Pennell, Brooke Porter, Cassandra Porter, Justin Simon, Elijah Warren and Jada-Lynn Wiliams.
Honor: Naiara Alvarado Piedy, Christian Argenal, Shawn Bickham Jr., Brooke Bull, Addison Bury, Naima Canady Byam, Jake Cross, Elizabeth Cruz Cruz, Marcus Curry, Joshua Decker, Maria Guambi, Kelsey Hopkins, Zane Kip, DaShaun Loyce, Angelina Magie, Sarai Miranda, Serenity Moore, Makayla Morales, Melanie Moreno Velasquez, Genesis Munoz Valladares, Randy Romero-Bello, Joseph Sarney, Tayler Schwartz, Jaidon Simmons, Elmer Son Vincente, Emma Stonick, Tatianna Warren and Angela Wheeler.
10th grade
High Honor: Derick Aliers Amparo, Zackary Alvord, Gianino Amendola, Sophia Marie Avellino, Jill Baumander, Olivia Corrigan, Liliana Crespo, Ashley De Leon, Dung Duong, Mariah Edwards, Angel Figueroa, Austin Frunzi, Yamilet Garcia Gonzalez, Peyton Hadjstylianos, Jhosmery Jadan Pangolo, Misael Juarez Perez, Peyton Klein, Bartlomiej Klys, Audrey Krum, Orchid Langlois, Nester Leon Aldana, Roger Lynker III, Katherine Maldonado, Bryan Maradiaga-Marin, Jeremiah McLeod, Mariely Medina Orellana, Jose Moreno Reyes, Katherine Panama Guailazaca, Giselle Perez Sanchez, Lucio Ponce Vazquez, Katterin Reyes Guardado, Amy Szuba, Allison Vasko, Jeronimo Velez Osorio, Sebastian Yupanqui and Jireth Zambrano Laines.
Honor: Keila Barrios Castanon, Eyanna Castro, Isabella Caycho, Kent Clark, Jeffery Cobbs, Jr., Riley Cox, Hudson Danzilo, Frandy DeLaCruz Solano, Colin Dole, Carlos Garzon Cruz, Mayrelis Gonzalez Ramirez, Kevin Leon Gavilan, Gia Matullo, Lucas McCarthy, Angele Osorio Ramirez, Daniela Ponce Flores, Riley Santiago, Jordan Smith, Madelynn Stewart, Olivia Tyler and Lige Young.
Ninth grade
High Honor: Colten Allen, Lillianna Black, Samuel Blandon Cardona, Emily Cardenas Reyes, Hope Corbett, Kevin Cordero Lima, Sophia Duarte, McKayla Figueroa, Belle Gandulla, Stephanie Gomez Nivelo, Hunter Kavleski, Jacob Klein, Shea-Leigh Kristiansen, Justin Lima Cedeno, Danna Lopez Ojeda, Evelyn Molina Ax, Anai Perez Sanchez, Adriana Ponce Agredano, Raul Rios, Gabriella Sheridan, Mason Williams and Jackson Wilson.
Honor: Brandon Amador, Irwin Barragan Rojas, Brayan Deras Barrios, Ezra Dilworth, Michael Feijo, Jade Guillazaca Lopez, Radek Klys, Lena LaGattuta, Jessey Miranda, Kourtney Perry, Baileigh Steinberg, Sophia Travis and Samantha Vidalis.