LIBERTY – After a one day postponement due to winter weather, the Liberty Central School District received the green light for a $42.7 million infrastructure project after the vote held on Wednesday, January 17 saw the proposal pass by a vote of 178 yes to 47 no.

“I thank the community for its continued support of Liberty Central School District and its students,” Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said. “The work included in this project will improve the educational environment for our students, offering them more comfortable, healthier  and safer spaces to learn now and explore their futures.”

Details of the project were announced by Dr. Sullivan before the Board of Education and the Town Board of Liberty in October of last year. The project focuses on repairs to the district’s high, middle, elementary school buildings, as well as their central administrative and storage buildings, and it is reported that the project will have no impact on taxes.

The plans were created by utilizing information gathered in a capacity study, a long-term demographic analysis and the survey on building conditions that was conducted during the 2021-22 school year. The district’s Board of Education and administrators are operating within a partnership with CSArch, a construction management team from Schoolhouse Construction Services and Fiscal Advisors.

According to the school district, the design process for the upgrades will continue on through July. The New York State Department of Education is expected to review and issue their approval or denial by November. The bid process has an expected completion date of February of 2025, with the contract being awarded to the winners of the bid in March. Following these steps, the construction is anticipated to begin in Spring 2025 and completed by fall of 2027.

According to Dr. Sullivan’s presentation before the Town Board, here is a breakdown of what the project is expected to accomplish:

High School Building 

Improvements  

(about $14.98 million)

• Exterior stair replacement

• 300 Wing renovations, additional classroom space and upgrades to the counseling suite

• Cafeteria renovations

• Innovation Lab renovations

• Replace emergency generator

• Hardwired carbon monoxide alarm systems

• HVAC controls upgrades (Pneumatics to Direct Digital Control)

High School: Athletic/Site Improvements 

(about $6.88 million)

• Resurfacing the running track

• Artificial turf multi-sport playing field (with drainage)

• Slot drains at track perimeter

• Replace the long-jump

• New concrete sidewalk for ADA accessibility

• New bleachers

• New press box

Middle School 

(about $3.61 million)

• Interior door replacements (41 doors total)

• HVAC controls upgrades (Pneumatics to Direct Digital Control)

• Site electric upgrades to address water infiltration into building

• Replace 2000A main electrical distribution panel

• Emergency lighting upgrades

• Emergency Generator

• Hardwired carbon monoxide alarm systems

Elementary School 

(about $13.93 million)

• Roofing repairs and upgrades

• Hazardous materials abatement (VAT Floor Tile)

• Wood flooring replacement

• Compliant railings at interior bleachers

• Classroom Unit Vent Replacements

• Boiler Conversions (steam to hot water)

• Gymnasium Ventilation System Upgrades

• HVAC Controls Upgrades

• Hardwired Carbon Monoxide Alarm Systems

Central Administrative 

Offices (about $265,000)

•New Emergency Generator

• Hardwired Carbon Monoxide Alarm Systems

Storage Building

(about $3.03 million)

The proposal also includes additional funds for the district-wide maintenance building that voters approved in 2021. Because of supply chain issues that increased costs of materials and increases in labor rates, bids for the building came in significantly higher than anticipated. Costs are not expected to drop and renovations for a new Innovation Lab are contingent on the relocation of Buildings and Grounds into the new storage building. The proposal includes an additional $2.23 million for the construction of the maintenance building, bringing the total to $3.03 million, reflecting the current material and labor market.