Category: Middle School News
A message from the superintendent on the cellphone and internet-enabled device policy
Dear Liberty families,
As you may be aware, New York State passed a law prohibiting students from accessing cellphones and internet-enabled-devices during the school day on school property, with few exceptions.
The law was passed to help reduce distractions and increase student engagement, as well as support student mental health.
We have created a policy and have a plan in place to address this issue. The full policy and plan can be found on our website.
The policy states that, unless there is an approved exception, middle school and high schools students must silence their phones and store them and other prohibited devices in their lockers. We discourage our elementary students from bringing devices to school, but if they do, the devices must be stored in their cubbies.
Students will have access to their school-provided Chromebooks and other devices.
We understand parents and guardians need to be able to reach their students during the school day. Students and their parents and guardians can communicate via the district-provided email or via phone at their schools main office.
If a student is found with a prohibited device, the student will be asked to place the device in their locker or cubby. A second offense will result in the device being stored in the main office, with a parent or guardian notified and the student able to retrieve their device at the end of the school day. A third and subsequent offence will result in the phone being stored at the main office and a parent or guardian must retrieve the device. Further offenses will result in the devices being stored at the office daily for longer periods of time. Administrators will also discuss the goal of the policy with students and their parents or guardians, the benefits of a distraction-free environment, the reasons the student had difficulty following this policy, and how the district can help the student contribute to a distraction-free environment. Students will not be suspended based solely on violation of this policy. However, the district may use consequences under the district’s Code of Conduct, including detention, in-school suspension and exclusion from extracurricular activities. Assignments on the detrimental impact of social media on mental health, smartphones in school, or other relevant topics may also be issued.
The district will also monitor enforcement of the policy and publish an annual report beginning in September 2026.
We appreciate the feedback provided by families earlier this year. To address some of the questions and concerns raised, a FAQ sheet is available on the district website. The issue will also be addressed at our annual back-to-school community forum, which will be held at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26, outside the High School Library.
If you have questions, please look over the FAQs, attend the forum or email questions@libertyk12.org.
Sincerely,
Dr. Patrick Sullivan
Superintendent
Leadership Week offers chance for administrators to reflect, plan
School may be out for summer, but that doesn’t mean work has slowed down for Liberty Central School District administrators.
The administration team spent this week preparing for the 2025-26 school year.
The annual summer professional development and planning retreat was held Tuesday through Friday, using LCSD’s five-year Strategic Plan and the District Comprehensive Improvement Plan as a focus and guide for the sessions.
Administrators reflected on progress during the 2024-25 school year, heard from speakers, participated in activities, took part in professional development sessions and worked on plans for the upcoming school year.
Teacher facilitators joined sessions on Thursday to learn more about LinkIt, the new data warehouse system designed to help more efficiently analyze and support students’ academic, social and emotional growth. They also worked with administrators on the building and Student Services school comprehensive education and priority plans, which were finalized on Friday.
The week ended with a session for administrators on Leader in Me with Robin Sampson.
“It is important to reflect on our past work while planning for our future,” Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said. “This week was very successful in doing that. I thank our speakers, administrators and teacher facilitators for their dedication to making Liberty a great place to learn.”
LES invites first responders to 9/11 ceremony
Liberty Elementary School’s annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony: Honoring the Past, Present and Future, will take place at 8:45 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 11.
All past and present firefighters, police officers and EMTs are invited to the ceremony. Those who wish to attend are asked to RSVP to Samantha Davis at SDavis1@libertyk12.org by Wednesday, Sept. 3.
The ceremony will take place at LES at 201 N. Main St. in Liberty.
Community Health Needs Assessment survey underway
Sullivan County Public Health and Garnet Health are leading the Community Health Needs Assessment process. As part of this process, a survey is available seeking input from those 18 and older. The feedback will help guide local programs, services and policies to better meet the real health needs of the community. All answers are anonymous, and those who don’t feel comfortable answering a particular question may leave it blank. The survey is open through July 31 at https://www.gnyhasurveys.org/CHNA
Redhawks sports signups to open July 21
Signups for the Redhawks’ fall sports season will open July 21 for varsity and junior varsity sports, and Aug. 4 for modified sports.
All student-athletes who are interested in participating in fall athletics must be registered and approved on Arbiter Sports before they can participate.
Those who wish to sign up for Varsity or JV sports must do so at https://students.arbitersports.com/liberty-central-school-district-athletics/jv-varsity-fall-sports-registration-2025-2
Modified sports sign ups must be completed at https://students.arbitersports.com/liberty-central-school-district-athletics/modified-fall-sports-registration-2025-2
Practice/Tryouts for fall Varsity and JV sports will begin Aug. 18, with modified starting Sept. 4.
Varsity sports offered this year are girls and boys soccer, girls tennis, girls volleyball, girls and boys cross country, cheerleading and football.
JV sports will be girls and boys soccer, girls volleyball and football for seventh through ninth grades.
Modified sports offered this fall are girls and boys soccer, girls and boys cross country, football for seventh through ninth grades and girls volleyball.
For more information, please contact Thomas Zehner, Director of Physical Education, Athletics and Health, at 845-292-5400, ext. 2012, or tzehner@libertyk12.org.
Liberty superintendent visits D.C. to advocate for schools
Liberty Central School District Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan recently spent time in Washington, D.C., to advocate for funding and programs that would help provide a quality education for all students at Liberty and beyond.
He took part in the Legislative Advocacy Conference, sponsored by the AASA The School Superintendents Association and the Association of School Business Officials International, to learn more about and discuss key issues impacting school districts, as well as meet with federal elected officials
Dr. Sullivan and Dr. Dwight Bonk from the Wappingers Central School District advocated for the Hudson Valley schools to ensure that they receive Title funding, IDEA funding, and other federal funding sources to support their students.
High on the list of proprieties for the conference was communicating the impact the federal government delaying Title funding of more than $6 billion has had on finalizing district budgets for the 2025-26 school year.
The funding cuts and changes in the president’s 2026 budget proposal were also a concern.
The “K-12 Simplified Funding Program” would consolidate 18 formula and competitive grant programs (worth $6.5 billion at fiscal year 2024 levels) into one block grant of $2 billion. It would also eliminate other programs, most notably Title III (English Acquisition) and Title I, Part C (Migrant Education State Grants).
“While I appreciate the intent behind the proposal to provide more flexibility for local decision making, the overall cut in funding would ultimately take away much needed resources for our schools,” Dr. Sullivan said.
The group also advocated for fully funding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which is vital to ensuring students with disabilities are provided a quality, robust education. IDEA would also be consolidated under the president’s proposal, with an increase in grants to states, but numerous programs inside IDEA losing all funding.
When IDEA was founded 50 years ago, Congress committed to funding 40% of the additional cost of educating student needs, which it has never done. The federal funding is now around 10%.
“Fully funding IDEA would be a worthwhile investment in our students and their future,” Dr. Sullivan said.
Conference attendees also advocated for the passage of updated student data and privacy legislation as well as reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools program
“It is important to let our elected officials know how their decisions will impact our schools, our staff and our students,” Dr. Sullivan said. “I am happy to be able to advocate for our students to meet our mission to empower each student to contribute and thrive in a diverse community by pursuing their potential.
Athletic director joins Liberty CSD
Thomas Zehner joined Liberty Central School District as its athletic director on July 1.
Mr. Zehner earned his bachelor’s degree from Sage College of Albany in K-12 physical education, a master’s degree in health, recreation and physical education from Emporia State University and a Certification of Advanced Study in School Leadership from SUNY New Paltz
Before coming to Liberty, Mr. Zehner was an elementary physical education teacher in Beacon City School District since September 2017. While at Beacon he was also the Adapted Physical Education Curriculum coordinator for four years and hosted 10 student teachers at the elementary level as a cooperating teacher for student teachers for six years. He also served as a coach for soccer, basketball, tennis, softball and lacrosse at Beacon.
He said he wants to build upon past successes at Liberty and hopes to increase participation in the Redhawks sports programs.
To do this he said he wants to help support existing youth sports programs in the community, as well as build programs to introduce younger students to sports in the schools, in accordance with the Redhawks Champion Plan introduced last year.
Expanding the Athletes Helping Athletes can be a big part of that, he said.
“Mentoring is great,” Mr. Zehner said, “but if we can get our older athletes to assist more in the elementary and middle schools, we can better build that sense of Redhawk community and Liberty pride.”
He said he could see students helping lead lessons in their sports, or volunteering with sports programs in the community.
“The district as a whole will benefit from promoting the culture of school spirit,” he said.
In his free time, Mr. Zehner, a resident of Wappingers Falls, enjoys golfing, hiking, playing sports and spending time with his family and dog.
LCSD District-wide Safety Plan available for review
The Liberty Central School District’s District-wide Safety Plan is available for review on our website and at the district office at 115 Buckley St. in Liberty. It will be available for public comment through Aug. 18, 2025.
Comments may be submitted to questions@libertyk12.org or to the Liberty Central School Office, 115 Buckley St, Liberty NY 12754.
Meals to be served at LES starting July 1
In addition to summer meals being served at Hanofee Park, breakfast and lunch will be served at Liberty Elementary starting July 1. Meals will be served Monday through Friday, except July 4, at Liberty Elementary, through Aug. 22, with breakfast offered from 8:15 to 9 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Meals at Hanofee Park will be served weekdays through Aug. 18, with breakfast served from 8 to 9 a.m., with lunch from 10:30 a.m. to noon.
For more information, visit https://www.libertyk12.org/department-services/food-services/summer-meals-and-menus/.
Liberty Wall of Fame inducts special education pioneer, community leader
Two Liberty Central School District alumni shared a special moment on Friday, June 27, as one was honored with induction into the Wall of Fame and the other spoke in tribute to her late father, who was also being inducted.
The 14th annual Liberty Wall of Fame induction ceremony took place in the Liberty High School auditorium recognizing Class of 1979 graduate Samuel Sanders Jr. and Class of 1948 graduate Albert Van Dyke.
“Each of our inductees represents a unique blend of personal and professional achievements,” said Liberty Interim Assistant Superintendent Marianne Serratore. “Together, they reflect the spirit, pride, and legacy of the Liberty Central School District and the broader Liberty community.”
Albert Van Dyke
Van Dyke’s daughter Diane Mutter took the stage first to accept the honor on his behalf. She briefly spoke of his accomplishments as a trailblazer in special education, a devoted community leader, and a champion for students with special needs.
She spoke of the early days when he established the district’s first special education class, which 10 years later expanded into a countywide program under Sullivan County BOCES. The organization’s first director of special education, he created and expanded programs at a time when special education was often overlooked.
Van Dyke was also an Eagle Scout, a member and Sunday School superintendent of the Liberty United Methodist Church, and a participant in civic organizations such as the Liberty Lions Club and the Sullivan County Mental Health Board. A historian and collector of local artifacts, he donated more than 2,000 cataloged postcards to the Sullivan County Museum.
Whether helping a Liberty graduate become a police officer by arranging for a civil service test to be read aloud or even rescuing two small children from a burning building, Van Dyke’s selflessness knew no bounds.
Van Dyke continued to serve his community after his 20-year career at BOCES by designing and implementing the county’s preschool special education program.
But what stood out to Mutter the most was his role as a father and family man. She recalled him teaching her how to bowl, play horseshoes, as well as all his work in the greater community.
“I miss him,” she said. “I miss his humor, and I miss his help, but I don’t miss his love, as it lives on.”
Samuel Sanders Jr.
Sanders’ friend and former teammate Dean Smith spoke next, telling stories of their days in Liberty.
As a standout multi-sport athlete, Sanders was a four-year varsity basketball player, team captain and two-time recipient of the Ivan Richards MVP Award. His athletic talents led him to play at Mansfield College, earn all-star status in a semi-pro league, and receive a tryout with the New Jersey Nets.
But where Sanders shined was helping others, especially the children of Liberty, so much so that he literally gave them the clothes off his back.
“His clothes can be found across Liberty because he gave his gear away to kids who wanted it,” Smith said.
Sanders is founder of Rising Stars Basketball, worked as a coach at LHS as well as the Hudson Valley Hawks and Hudson Valley Rivermen, where he has shaped the lives of many aspiring athletes.
For Sanders, it is all about community and family. After receiving his award, Sanders brought the family members who were in attendance on to the stage to recognize all they had done for him. He also thanked members and the pastor of his church, Friendship Baptist, for inspiring him.
Finding a place for everyone has been his hallmark. He has organized community events such as the “Pursuing Your Dreams” workshop and the “Fathers and Men’s Unity Event” as well as mentored prisoners.
“I love everyone,” Sanders said. “It doesn’t matter your race or your color.”
Each of the honorees were also presented with proclamations from state Assembly Member Paula Elaine Kay, state Senator Peter Oberacker and the county legislature.
The Wall of Fame was established in 2011 by the Board of Education to honor extraordinary alumni. Nominees are judged on exceptional accomplishments and significant contributions within their career, community or personal life.