On Tuesday, Jan. 30, Liberty Central School District Superintendent of Schools Dr. Patrick Sullivan sent the following message to students’ families.

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Dear Liberty families,

With more than a month left of winter weather, I wanted to remind you of our district’s plan for remote learning should we exceed our seven allotted emergency closure days, which are used for inclement weather or another situation that requires the closing of school, such as a power failure. As of today, Jan. 30, we have used four of our seven emergency closure days. 

Because the state Education Department requires school districts to remain in session for at least 180 days, using a remote learning day in the event that we exceed our allotted emergency days would reduce the need for the district to meet that requirement by extending the regular school year or taking away already planned days off, such as Memorial Day. 

While we still have emergency days left to use, we are asking all parents and guardians to please review the Emergency Closing Remote Learning Plan now so you are familiar with the expectations of your student on a remote learning day so you and they are prepared if there is a need for one. If you have questions or concerns about the activities on a remote learning day, please contact the main office of your student’s school. If you have technology concerns, contact Director of Technology Patrick Killian at 845-292-5400, ext. 2068 or pkillian@libertyk12.org. 

I understand that a remote learning day may pose challenges for some families, and I appreciate your flexibility as we work together to fulfill our district’s mission of empowering each student to contribute and thrive in a diverse community by pursuing their potential. 

Sincerely,

Dr. Patrick Sullivan

Superintendent of Schools

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In the three school buildings, heating, ventilation and air conditioning are controlled by outdated, inefficient pneumatic systems.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.

Students, Parents, Employees, and Other Community Members (“Individual Purchasers”)

1. Merchandise that has been ordered and paid for by you, but has not yet been delivered to you:
   • Request a refund of your payment directly from the school/community organization that you made a payment to.
   • Do not request a refund directly from the District. No refunds will be made by the District directly to Individual Purchasers of Merchandise.
2. Merchandise that has been delivered to you:
   • You may return the Merchandise to, and request a refund of your payment from, the school/ community organization who sold you the Merchandise.
   • Do not return Merchandise to, or request a refund from, the District. No refunds will be made directly by the District to Individual Purchasers of Merchandise.

School/Community Organizations

1. Unsold Merchandise
   • Merchandise that was paid for by you and delivered to you between October 14, 2023, and November 16, 2023, but which has not been resold by you to Individual Purchasers, together with proof of your payment for the Merchandise, may be delivered to the Liberty Central School District District Office at 115 Buckley Street Liberty, NY 12754, on school days between the hours of 8:00 am – 4:00 pm. You will receive a full refund for the actual cost you paid for the Merchandise.
   • Any lost profits or lost fundraising revenue that may have been gained by future resale of the Merchandise will not be compensated by the District.
2. Merchandise sold to Individual Purchasers
   • Merchandise that was sold by you to Individual Purchasers between October 14, 2023, and November 16, 2023 should be fully refunded to Individual Purchasers who either cancel their order for undelivered Merchandise, or who return delivered Merchandise to you and request a refund. Undelivered Merchandise and returned Merchandise, together with proof of your payment for the Merchandise and proof of refunds made for cancelled orders and returned Merchandise, may be delivered to 115 Buckley Street Liberty, NY 12754, on school days between the hours of 8:00 am – 4:00 pm. You will receive a full refund for the actual cost you paid for the Merchandise.
   • You will not receive reimbursement for any lost profits or lost fundraising revenues. To be clear, the difference between the amount that you paid for the Merchandise, and the resale price that was paid to you by and refunded by you to Individual Purchasers, will not be reimbursed by the District.

Any questions may be directed to mascotrefund@libertyk12.org

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.