Category: District News
Liberty BOE to meet Tuesday, Feb. 25
The next Board of Education meeting will be on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, in the HS Media Center at 5 p.m.. The Board anticipates to enter into executive session (not open to the public) immediately. The regular portion of the meeting, open to the public, is expected to resume at 6 p.m.
The agenda will be available on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, at Board Docs.
LMS students display their math skills at competition
On Feb. 1, Liberty Middle School’s MATHCOUNTS team competed in the MATHCOUNTS Chapter Competition at Dutchess Community College. The team, coached by Mr. Joe Franke, included Claire Ferguson, Yoscari Gomez Mejia, Elizabeth MacNamara, Alena Tarabich and Sophie Zayas. They demonstrated impressive problem-solving skills and teamwork throughout the event, Mr. Franke said.
Elizabeth MacNamara earned third place out of 19 students in the Countdown Round, a head-to-head competition that tests students’ speed and accuracy in solving complex math problems under pressure. “Her outstanding performance was a testament to her hard work and dedication,” Mr. Franke said.
MATHCOUNTS is a nationwide program that challenges middle school students with engaging and rigorous math problems, helping them build critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The competition consists of individual and team rounds, testing students’ speed, accuracy and strategic thinking.
Budget work underway at Liberty Central School District
Although there is still more than three months until the public will vote on the Liberty Central School District budget, district officials have been hard at work for months to begin crafting a budget that will maintain programs and balance fiscal responsibility to the taxpayers.
The process began in October when Assistant Superintendent for Business Laurene McKenna requested 2025-26 proposals from administrators.
In December, Ms. McKenna presented the rollover budget information to the Board of Education. Those items include expenses that are carried over from year-to-year such as salaries, health care costs and other contractual obligations.
Preliminary state aid proposals were released last month. Under this proposal, Liberty CSD would see a 3.02% — or more than $1 million — increase in Foundation Aid, the main source of funding from the state. The district did see a loss in reimbursements from capital projects, but that is because a gap in capital project outlays during the current fiscal year.
The first presentation of the budget proposal, which will provide a conceptual framework for the final budget, will go before the Board of Education on Tuesday, Feb. 25.
“Our goal is to maintain the programs put in place during COVID, which used funds from the American Rescue Plan and Every Student Succeeds acts, even though that funding has dropped,” Ms. McKenna said.
The budget will hold true to the district’s strategic plan and continue investments in our students’ education following the District Comprehensive Improvement and building-level plans, Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said.
Once the budget is finalized, the district will plan a series of informational sessions in the community that will be communicated as they are set.
The budget vote will take place from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 20, in the high school Media Center. For more budget information, visit the district’s budget page.
Sports schedule, and results, for the week of Feb. 17-23, 2025
Our student athletes are in action this week in basketball, indoor track and field, and wrestling.
Here are the schedule and results, if available. Livestream links are included where available.
Monday, Feb. 17
10 a.m.: Girls Varsity Wrestling Sectionals vs. Multiple Schools at Mount Saint Mary College. For tickets: https://gofan.co/event/3164564?schoolId=NYSPHSAA9
Tuesday, Feb. 18
No events scheduled
Wednesday, Feb. 19
3:30 p.m.: Boys and Girls Varsity Indoor Track & Field Exhibition vs. Multiple Schools at SUNY Sullivan
4:15 p.m.: Boys Modified Basketball vs. Tri-Valley at Liberty High School.
4:30 p.m.: Girls Varsity Basketball vs. Beacon City at Beacon High School.
5:45 p.m.: Girls Modified Basketball vs. Tri-Valley at Liberty High School.
Thursday, Feb. 20
No events scheduled.
Friday, Feb. 21
4 p.m.: Girls Varsity Basketball vs. Sullivan West Central at Liberty High School.
4:15 p.m.: Girls Modified Basketball vs. Sullivan West Central at Sullivan West – Jeffersonville.
5:45 p.m.: Boys Modified Basketball vs. Sullivan West Central at Sullivan West – Jeffersonville
Saturday, Feb. 22
No events scheduled.
Sunday, Feb. 23
No events scheduled.
The schedule is subject to change. Check the Liberty schedule on the Section IX website for the latest.
Professional development day gives LCSD admins, faculty, staff an opportunity for growth
Following a snow day and on the eve of a four-day weekend, the Liberty Central School District administration, faculty, and staff dedicated themselves to enhancing their skills and expanding their knowledge.
The Friday, Feb. 14, professional development day was broken into sessions geared for small and large group learning and collaboration.
Educational consultant Eric Sheninger, founder and chief executive officer of Aspire Change EDU, returned to Liberty to lead sessions with administrators and teachers on the use of AI to increase engagement.
Faculty and staff took time early in the day to complete the DESSA social-emotional screening for students as well as worked on curriculum mapping and participated in required training throughout the day.
Faculty and staff were also assigned to specific sessions related to their roles and responsibilities. This included learning new programs, continuing education on others and finding new strategies to help educate students.
“It’s important for educators to keep learning and growing their skills,” Dr. Patrick Sullivan said. “Our professional development days are vital to helping us meet the goals of our strategic plan and ensuring Liberty is a great place to learn.”
Some of the trainings were on Light Desk (first picture above) EduPlanet (center) and Project Adventure Rock Wall (at right)
LES Drama Club to present musical
Liberty Elementary Drama Club will present “Seussical Kids” at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, and at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 1, in the Liberty Elementary School gymnasium at 201 N. Main St. in Liberty.
The audience will be taken to the land of Seuss, where “All thinkers of strange and wonderful thinks” will bring Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat and others from the Page to the Stage.
Friday’s snow date will be 5 p.m. Saturday, March 1.
Saturday’s snow date will be at 6 p.m. Monday, March 3.
For more information, email jward@libertyk12.org.
Liberty skier to compete in states for second time
Liberty sophomore Hunter Danzilo placed second in the giant slalom race and seventh in the slalom race, scoring fifth place overall in Section 9 during the finals at Hunter Mountain on Tuesday, Feb. 11. Hudson earned an invitation to the New York State Championship races at Mount Gore on Feb. 24 and 25.
He competed in states last year, placing 33rd out of 66 racers in the giant slalom and 23rd out of 66 racers in the slalom.
Hudson is pictured at left on the slopes and posing with Liberty skiers eighth-grader Alexandra Kelly and junior Jake Cross, who also competed in the Section 9 Championship races.
One emergency closure day remains; remote learning reminder issued
With today’s closure because of freezing rain, Liberty Central School District has used six of its seven emergency closure days allotted for the school year.
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.
Seven Liberty wrestlers to compete at sectionals
Congratulations to our Liberty Redhawk wrestlers who will be competing in the Girls and Boys Sectional tournaments.
There are five boys competing in the Section 9 D2 tournament: Everett Schwartz at 116, Misael Juarez-Pere at 138, Shawn Bickham and Tarek Benadi, both at 190, and Elmer Son Vicente at 215. The tournament will be held at Franklin D. Roosevelt High School at 156 South Cross Road in Hyde Park, starting at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 16.
On the girls side, Isabella Wagner will be competing at 138 and Cheyenne Graham at 185 in the Section 9 tournament at 9 a.m. Monday, Feb. 17, at Mount Saint Mary College.
Tickets must be purchased in advance.
Tickets for the boys tournament will cost $10 each and may be purchased at https://gofan.co/event/2933596?schoolId=NYSPHSAA9.
Tickets for the girls tournament are $8 and can be purchased at https://gofan.co/event/3164564?schoolId=NYSPHSAA9.
Two recognized with Excellence in Service Awards at BOE meeting
A high school math teacher and an elementary teacher assistant were honored during the Liberty Central School Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 11.
Lindsey Murphy
Ms. Murphy, mentor and department chair of the Liberty High School Math Department, was recognized for her upbeat attitude, preparation, help extracurricular activities and her support of LHS staff.
She offers extra help to her students and to those who aren’t in her class, according to her nomination. She has also coached girls varsity basketball and, with Ms. Golden, has helped keep the George Hutchinson Scholarship running.
She always has a smile on her face, is kind and helps make school fun by playing music between classes and dancing along.
She helps foster a sense of belonging among students and staff.
“Lindsey is the kind of teacher we would all like to be more like,” her nominator wrote, “and kids are happy to see her name on their schedule and her smiling face when they enter the class.”
Katie Chakar
Mrs. Chakar’s pride in her work, positive energy and ability to make lessons fun earned her the Excellence in Service recognition.
“She comes to work every day with the biggest smile on her face, excited to see her students,” her nominator wrote. “Katie is wonderful and caring, always going above and beyond for her students and the teacher she works with.”
She comes up with fun crafts for her students, excels in organizing classroom materials and fosters a positive, inclusive atmosphere.
“Katie is a tremendous asset to Liberty Elementary School, especially in Mrs. Johnston’s class,” the nomination read.
There was no awardee from the middle school this month, as all nominees have already received the award.
Each month, staff members nominate others they believe are going above and beyond, be it a single act of excellence or kindness or a continuous work ethic.
We congratulate these employees on their awards.