Category: Elementary News
Liberty CSD voters approve $68M school budget proposal
On Tuesday, May 21, voters in the Liberty Central School District approved, 987-69, the district’s $68 million budget proposal for the 2024-25 school year.
“We appreciate Liberty Central School District residents’ continued support and recognition of our efforts to give our students the education they need to pursue their potential and thrive in the future,” Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said. “We are also glad we could do this without increasing the tax levy for the sixth year in a row.”
The $68,034,294 budget funds all current student programs and services, while keeping the tax levy the same as the current year. The budget includes several program expansions that support the district’s five-year strategic plan, including expanding the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) math curriculum to seventh grade, adding Syracuse University Project Advance college credit courses, as well as introducing more computer science and AI-related programs across grades.
The budget also includes the addition of a Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)-certified teacher, creating an administrative athletic director position, and converting two part-time teacher aide positions into one full time teacher aid. An update to the middle school library’s innovation lab is also included.
Voters also re-elected three board of education members to three-year terms on the board. Maureen Crescitelli received 605 votes, Peter Racette received 591 and Pamela Teed Fisk, 595. Three write-in candidates, Miriam Singer, Miriam Breuer and Miriam Heimlich, each received more than 400 votes, with several others receiving one vote each.
Capital project schedule set
Construction expected to begin in the fall
While no dirt has been moved nor a sledge hammer yet swung, work on the Capital Project approved by Liberty Central School District voters in January is moving forward.
After speaking with administrators and staff who will be impacted by the work, a basic schedule of the work has been created. The plan was recently presented to the board of education.
Maintenance Building
The maintenance building structure for the Building and Grounds Department, which has already been approved by the state Education Department following the 2021 project vote, is expected to go to bid this summer and early fall, with construction anticipated to begin in the fall and be completed by late summer 2025.
Phase 1
The next phase will be broken into three sections, with all expected to be submitted for SED approval in July, and bidding to be in February and March 2025.
- Phase 1A will include exterior stair replacement and emergency generator replacement at the high school; interior door replacement at the middle school, and hazardous flooring abatement and replacement at the elementary school. The work at the athletics field is also in the phase. That will include the synthetic turf field installation, running track and field events upgrades, scoreboard, public address system and bleacher replacement, the addition of site and athletic lighting, sidewalk replacement, and replacement of the press box with a pre-engineered metal building. Construction of this phase is anticipated to take place spring 2025 through spring 2026.
- Phase 1B will be the boiler replacement in the Elementary School, with construction expected to take place in summer 2025.
- Phase 1C will be the installation of new emergency generators in the middle school and district office and the replacement of electrical distribution panels of the middle school. Construction of this phase is expected in summer 2026.
Phase 2
The second phase of the project will be at the elementary school, with the boiler conversion (steam to hot water) completed, gymnasium ventilation added, HVAC controls upgraded, unit ventilators installed and the wood flooring in classrooms replaced. The project is expected to be submitted for approval to the NYSED in September with bidding anticipated in May or June 2025 and construction to be completed in summer 2026.
Phase 3
The final phase will include renovations to the 300 wing and cafeteria, as well as work needed to convert the former maintenance space into the innovation lab, at the high school. The third phase will also include HVAC controls upgrades at the high school and middle school, new carbon monoxide systems in all three school buildings and the district office, new emergency lighting and repairs for the transformer and chiller at the middle school, and roof fascia repairs and gymnasium seating handrail upgrades at the elementary school. The final phase is expected to be submitted to NYSED for approval in January 2025, with bidding anticipated to follow in November and December 2025. Construction is expected to take place during the summers of 2026 and 2027.
The full capital project is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
The presentation can be seen at https://go.boarddocs.com/ny/liberty/Board.nsf/files/D49JCW4C71CF/$file/CS%20Arch%20Presentation%20April%2016%2C%202024.pdf
Two from Liberty to be honored by MHSSC
Liberty High School English Teacher Michele Clark and Liberty Central School District Board of Education member John Nichols will be honored by the Mid-Hudson School Study Council later this spring.
Michele Clark
Clark will receive a Teaching Excellence Award, which is “designed to recognize those teachers who have demonstrated excellence in achieving the educational mission at their BOCES, district, or campus level,” according to the MHSSC.
Clark, who has taught English for 30 years, 25 of them at Liberty, will be honored for her commitment to her students and the school community.
“Clark is more than just a teacher; she is a dynamic educator who continuously innovates and enhances her craft,” Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan wrote in nominating her for the award. “Her dedication to professional development and her willingness to explore new teaching methodologies have resulted in engaging and effective lessons that resonate with her students.”
High School Principal Derek Adams agreed, writing in his nomination letter: “In the classroom, Michele exhibits exceptional educational talent, employing effective instructional practices that not only engage students but also yield tangible results in terms of academic growth and achievement.”
Her excellence goes beyond the lessons, Sullivan wrote, calling her “a caring individual who prioritizes building meaningful relationships with her students and colleagues alike.”
“She creates a supportive and inclusive learning environment where every student feels valued and empowered to succeed,” he added. “Her genuine care and concern for her students extend beyond the classroom, as she actively participates in extracurricular activities and mentorship programs to further enrich their educational experience.”
Adams’ noted Clark’s work as Allusions co-advisor, where creative writing, poetry and artistic work come together in the annual Allusions publication.
She is also a leader for her peers, Adams wrote. She is a department facilitator and hosts weekly professional learning community groups to improve her department. “She exemplifies leadership qualities that inspire others and contribute to the professional development of the entire faculty,” he wrote. “She embodies the highest ideals of teaching excellence and is truly deserving of this prestigious honor.”
John Nichols
Nichols, who has served on Liberty’s school board for more than a decade, including time as board vice president and five years as president, will receive a School Board Service Award. The award is “designed to recognize those individuals who through their selfless efforts have helped guide, support, promote and serve the school districts and communities they represent,” according to the MHSSC.
“The mission of the Liberty Central School District is to empower each student to contribute and thrive in a diverse community by pursuing their potential,” Sullivan wrote in his nomination letter for Nichols. “After reading our mission, I am honored to state that Mr. John Nichols has exemplified our mission throughout his work as a Liberty Central School District Board of Education member.”
Nichols’ goals, Sullivan wrote, “are to provide students with the opportunities and resources to help our students achieve, uphold fiscal responsibility, and represent the entire Liberty Community.”
And that is something Nichols has done well, Sullivan wrote.
Nichols “always stresses the importance of leveraging our resources to expand our curriculum, supports each student that walks through our hallways and relays the voice of his constituents,” Sullivan wrote.
Sullivan also pointed out Nichols’ dedication to students and tradition. In his role as board president and a volunteer firefighter, Nichols, a 1985 LHS graduate, helped the district safely resume the homecoming bonfire during the 2021-22 school year.
Fiscal responsibility is also important to Nichols.
“Mr. Nichols has a strong understanding of our school budget, and he continuously balances fiscal responsibility and innovation,” Sullivan wrote. “(He) continuously supports our Strategic Plan from his Board of Education capacity and has advocated for a minimal tax increase for our school community for several years,” calling him “a true champion for our students, faculty, staff and taxpayers.”
“Liberty would not be on its trajectory if it wasn’t for Mr. Nichols’ leadership,” Sullivan wrote.
The awards will be presented at the MHSSC’s Annual Meeting & Awards Celebration on Wednesday, May 8, in the Fieldstone Auditorium in North Rockland School District
This year, the MHSSC split its awards into two ceremonies. LHS Teaching Assistant Nancy Katzenberger was honored this fall as one the recipients of the MHSSC’s Support Staff Award for Excellence in Education.
BOE approves $68M budget proposal; vote is May 21
On Tuesday, April 16, the Liberty Central School District Board of Education approved a $68 million budget proposal to put before the voters on Tuesday, May 21. The proposal for the 2024-25 school year enhances curriculum and improves programs without increasing the tax levy.
This is the sixth consecutive year there is no proposed tax levy increase.
“This budget proposal continues our commitment to fiscal responsibility while providing the increased programming and support our students need to contribute and thrive in a diverse community by pursuing their potential,” Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said.
The proposed $68,034,294 budget increases spending 2.62%, or $1,737,992, and would fund all current student programs and services. The district’s allowable calculated tax levy limit increase is 5.24%; however, because the governor’s budget proposal allocates a 3.06%, or $1,686,000, increase in state aid to Liberty, the district is able to put forth a proposal with a tax levy of $17,760,162, the same as the current year’s budget.
The proposed spending increase is attributed to increases in such recurring expenses as insurance, energy costs and maintenance materials, as well as proposed expansions to curricular and extracurricular opportunities.
One of the pillars of the district’s five-year strategic plan is curriculum. Several program expansions proposed in the 2024-25 budget would support that pillar, including expanding the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) math curriculum to seventh grade, adding Syracuse University Project Advance college credit courses, as well as introducing more computer science and AI-related programs across grades.
The proposal also includes the addition of a Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)-certified teacher, creating an administrative athletic director position, and converting two part-time teacher aide positions into one full time teacher aid. An update to the middle school library’s innovation lab is also in the proposal.
“This budget proposal keeps us focused on the elements of our strategic plan so that we can continue to prepare our students for a successful future,” Sullivan said.
Polls will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 21, in the High School Media Center. The time and location are changes from past years. More budget information will be available on the district’s budget page.
Liberty students take home 11 awards at county art show
Liberty Central School District students won several awards at last week’s Sullivan County PK-12 Art Show at the Events Gallery at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.
Liberty students took four of the five possible Artist Choice Awards in Photography. The Artist Choice Awards are selected by professionals. Leonel Malaga Ventura earned an award for black and white photography, and Jill Baumander, Kaitlyn Bodolosky and Maria Quintanilla Bonilla each won for color photography.
In Sculpture, Studio Art student Roz Schauerhamer took an Artist Choice award.
In Ceramics, Brittany Cardenas won two Artist Choice awards and Brook Bull took a Student Choice award.
In Painting, Studio Art student Madelynn Stewart received an Artist Choice award
In Mixed Media, Aulanie Garcia Velez took a Student Choice award.
In Drawing, Giovanni Flores Leon earned an Artist Choice Award.
The show kicked off with a high school student opening from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, April 11, and opened to the public with a reception from 2 to 6 p.m. Friday, April 12. The show continued from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 13 and 14.
Student artwork from media categories of ceramics and Glass, Digital Art Design, Black and White Drawing, Color Drawing, Mixed Media, Painting, Black and White Photography, Color Photography, Film and Animation, and Sculpture were on display, with about 125 total pieces from Liberty students across the district.
LCSD earns national recognition for music education for fifth consecutive year
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 for the fifth year in a row.
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 offers a multifaceted array of benefits, touching on cognitive, emotional, social, and physical development,” LCSD Director of Music Eric Aweh said. “Its impact is profound, laying the groundwork for well-rounded individuals who are capable of thinking creatively, expressing themselves, and contributing positively to society.”
The community will be able to see the Liberty music students in action several times before the end of the school year, with a series of spring concerts. High school mixed ensembles will be featured Thursday, May 9; seventh and eighth graders on Tuesday, May 14; high school honors students on Thursday, May 16; fifth and sixth graders on Tuesday, May 21, and the elementary students on Monday, June 3. All concerts will be held in the high school auditorium at 7 p.m., except the elementary concert which will begin at 6:30 p.m.
“Music is a vital part of the educational experience,” 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 23rd 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.
Wizards entertain at Liberty PTA fundraiser
On Monday night, March 18, visitors to Liberty High School gymnasium couldn’t be sure if they were there to attend a basketball game or a party.
But that’s typical when the Harlem Wizards come to town. The basketball team/entertainers returned to Liberty to take on the Redhawks staff as part of a fundraiser for the Liberty PTA.
Before a packed gymnasium, the Wiz Kids (children who had Wizards jerseys) were introduced and were able to warm up with the Wizards players. After introductions of the Redhawks and Wizards players, the party … errrr, game … began.
There were plenty of trick shots by the Wizards, and some impressive scoring by the Redhawks, but the score was secondary to the fun. The Master of Ceremonies kept the audience singing and dancing throughout the event, with the third quarter part karaoke, part dance party in the stands, as some of the players switched teams to continue the game. The Wizards interacted with the fans, offering high fives, going into the stands, leading the crowd in dances and more.
The Redhawks staff team members weren’t immune to the Wizards antics, often becoming part of the entertainment.
At the half, students who had courtside player tickets were able to take part in a three-minute basketball game with the Wizards, and the players autographed jerseys and balls, took selfies and spoke to the fans.
Near the end of the fourth quarter a football game broke out, interrupted by Kung Fu moves, dancing and more.
With 10 seconds left on the clock, the clock was stopped and the students in the audience were invited onto the floor for a dance party and counted down the last 10 seconds of the game.
Proceeds from the fundraiser are used by the Liberty PTA for scholarships, assemblies, events and materials for students.
Oh yeah, the Wizards won, 75-64.
More photos are available on LCSD’s social media pages, and a video can be seen here:
Growth and ‘Disruptive Thinking’ themes of LCSD PD day
Friday, March 15, was another day of learning for faculty and staff at Liberty Central School District.
A day off for students, the Professional Development Day began with breakfast in the high school cafeteria followed by keynote speaker Eric Sheninger, founder and chief executive officer of Aspire Change EDU, in the high school auditorium. The educational consultant has been working with the high school as part of the LHS School Comprehensive Education Plan. Sheninger gave the presentation “Disruptive Thinking in our Classrooms.”
“To change or grow, we must challenge conventional wisdom,” he said.
Often using humor and short videos, he encouraged faculty and administrators to rethink four core items — normal, learning, learners and mindset — in an effort to have transformative change that will improve academic and social outcomes for the students.
“Disruptive thinking is the ability to replace conventional ideas with innovative solutions on authentic problems,” one of his slides read.
Changes have been made throughout the years, but the pandemic forced most schools into the “disruptive thinking” mindset, he said.
Technology was at the forefront of those changes, he said, but not all changes must be technologically based.
Bouncing ideas off of co-workers was also encouraged. He took several “turn-and-learn” breaks, sometimes encouraging staff to turn to others near them and other times to get up from their seats to find others to discuss a topic.
He emphasized that there are several known practices that help students learn, however there is no standard operating procedure for educators. What works in one classroom may not work in another, or what works for one student may not be the most effective way of learning for a classmate.
“Chase growth, not perfection,” Sheninger said.
He also encouraged teachers to focus on what they can control — primarily how time is used in their classrooms. He also recommended a forward thinking approach of focusing on “What if?” rather than “Yeah, but.”
He used several examples of the impact educators have had on his life.
“Never underestimate or undervalue your impact on kids,” he said.
The keynote was followed by Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan, who reviewed the District’s Strategic Plan and Comprehensive Improvement Plan.
Walking around the auditorium as he spoke, he reviewed where the district is in both documents and highlighted benchmark data as well as plans, events and activities that have been implemented in support of the goals of the district and individual schools.
“Growth is happening,” Sullivan said. “We are moving in the right direction.”
He thanked the faculty, staff and administration for working together to meet Liberty’s mission “to empower each student to contribute and thrive in a diverse community by pursuing their potential.”
“Thank you for continuously caring,” he said. “Thank you for always wanting to move forward.”
After a break for lunch, staff and faculty from each school broke out into their own sessions.
The high school again heard from Sheninger, who spoke on adjusting teaching methods to today’s technology.
The middle school took part in a Targeted School Improvement workshop with education consultant Betsy Conners of PLC Associates. The middle school has been designated a Targeted Support and Improvement School, because four student subgroups — Black, Hispanic, English Language Learners and Economically Disadvantaged — did not meet expectations.
The elementary staff took time in the afternoon to work on their curriculum maps, which help educators align their curriculum with the educational goals of their class.
There were further breakouts for specific staff and faculty roles as well.
LCSD holds regular conference days to offer faculty and staff professional development in support of the district’s five-year strategic plan. The sessions cover all pillars of the plan — curriculum, coherence, culture and MTSS, or Multi-Tier System of Supports.
Food delivery changes, job openings announced
Liberty Central School District recently announced changes to its food delivery policy on its campuses, as well as several job openings in all three buildings.
Food deliveries
As a safety precaution, corporate food delivery services, such as DoorDash, Uber Eats and Slice, will no longer be allowed to any district building starting Monday, March 18, 2024 . Food deliveries from local establishments that offer delivery service will be allowed but orders must be placed by a staff member and cleared through the building’s main office first. Students will not be allowed to place delivery orders to the schools.
Job openings
At the high school, there are two aide positions, a floating substitute as well as business and English teaching positions open. Open positions at the middle school include three part-time lunch monitors, a floating substitute and a front desk greeter. There are two floating substitutes, one part-time aide, a speech and language pathologist and an assistant principal opening at the elementary school. The middle and high school also are hiring for a shared LPN.
More information on these and other positions is available at https://libertyk12.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx.
Those with questions may email questions@libertyk12.org.
LES fourth-grade wrestler takes second in statewide event
Liberty Elementary fourth-grader Blake Dennison recently placed second in the NY Wrestling Association for Youth State Championships. He trains at Deep Roots Wrestling Club in Walden, three times a week, while excelling in his education and band. On Saturday, March 9, he traveled to Syracuse to compete in the D5 70-pound weight class, which had 30 competitors.