From Nutshell History of Lebanon, IL
Timeline for Lebanon Schools
1872 – The Lebanon Public School began with C. V. Bridge, principal, seven teachers, and a janitor. According to a poll taken by the school board, there were 1,417 persons in the population younger than 21 years, including all 111 black children and youths.
1875 –Public schools rules included: “The air in each schoolroom should be effectually changed at each recess in winter. The temperature shall at no time exceed 65 degrees.” And: “No teacher or pupil shall use tobacco in any shape during school hours.”
1885 –Matured school bonds were burned: “Julius Hoffman, surrounded by witnesses, opened the stove door and consigned said coupons to the mercy of the flames, and not until the ashes told of their sad fate did said persons leave the scene.”
1892 – The public was closed indefinitely because of an epidemic of scarlet fever. Classrooms were thoroughly fumigated and disinfected by the janitor.
1899 – The high school course was two years long. Graduates in this last class of the nineteenth century included Benjamin Howard Mc-Allister, age 15, class salutatorian, and Cora Gedney (later wife of Dr. R. C. Berry), class valedictorian.
1921 – The Lebanon High School district was organized and a school board elected with Dr. Phil Griesbaum as chairman and Dr. Fred Renner as secretary. The third floor of the public school building was designated for a community high school.
1933 – At the grade school, the assembly hall on the third floor was used for basketball and gymnastics. This caused vibrations on the school building, but the School Board, after investigation, concluded that it was not a safety hazard.
1935—the School Board fined three parents $20 each for not sending their children to school. The Board further voted to excuse children age 14 and above from attendance.
1938 -- The School Board was upset to learn that a teacher supervised students in preparing banners for a demonstration
1938-- A new grade school is build for $83,318.51.
1973—Craig Virgin, Lebanon High’s track star, won fame and set records around the world for the one, two and three-mile runs.
1983 -- On May 1, a tornado touched down 0.5 mile west of U.S. Highway 50 and Route 4, near Lebanon. It destroyed the old high school before turning NE, damaging or destroying 20 homes.
2005 -- Neal Cotts, graduate LHS Class of 1998 was a member of the 2005 World Series Champion Chicago White Sox. He was the only relief pitcher out of the bullpen in the League Championship series. He pitched in all four games of the World Series. Neal earned a win in the second game of the World Series.
2000 -- Poettker Construction Company builds a seven room junior high addition to join to join the grade school with the high school
2010 -- On June 30, Summerfield Grade School Closed.
2012 -- Lebanon Community School District # 9 celebrates its 140th Year of Public Education
2015 - April 19 - Lebanon C.U.S.D. #9 celebrates a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for a new Pre-Kindergarten - fifth grade elementary building.
2018 -- LHS Girls Basketball team finished 3rd in State
2020 -- District moves to remote learning on March 16 for the remainder of the school year due to Coronavirus Disease (COVID19)
2022 -- Lebanon Community School District #9 celebrates 150 years of public education.
Timeline for Lebanon Schools
1872 – The Lebanon Public School began with C. V. Bridge, principal, seven teachers, and a janitor. According to a poll taken by the school board, there were 1,417 persons in the population younger than 21 years, including all 111 black children and youths.
1875 –Public schools rules included: “The air in each schoolroom should be effectually changed at each recess in winter. The temperature shall at no time exceed 65 degrees.” And: “No teacher or pupil shall use tobacco in any shape during school hours.”
1885 –Matured school bonds were burned: “Julius Hoffman, surrounded by witnesses, opened the stove door and consigned said coupons to the mercy of the flames, and not until the ashes told of their sad fate did said persons leave the scene.”
1892 – The public was closed indefinitely because of an epidemic of scarlet fever. Classrooms were thoroughly fumigated and disinfected by the janitor.
1899 – The high school course was two years long. Graduates in this last class of the nineteenth century included Benjamin Howard Mc-Allister, age 15, class salutatorian, and Cora Gedney (later wife of Dr. R. C. Berry), class valedictorian.
1921 – The Lebanon High School district was organized and a school board elected with Dr. Phil Griesbaum as chairman and Dr. Fred Renner as secretary. The third floor of the public school building was designated for a community high school.
1933 – At the grade school, the assembly hall on the third floor was used for basketball and gymnastics. This caused vibrations on the school building, but the School Board, after investigation, concluded that it was not a safety hazard.
1935—the School Board fined three parents $20 each for not sending their children to school. The Board further voted to excuse children age 14 and above from attendance.
1938 -- The School Board was upset to learn that a teacher supervised students in preparing banners for a demonstration
1938-- A new grade school is build for $83,318.51.
1973—Craig Virgin, Lebanon High’s track star, won fame and set records around the world for the one, two and three-mile runs.
1983 -- On May 1, a tornado touched down 0.5 mile west of U.S. Highway 50 and Route 4, near Lebanon. It destroyed the old high school before turning NE, damaging or destroying 20 homes.
2005 -- Neal Cotts, graduate LHS Class of 1998 was a member of the 2005 World Series Champion Chicago White Sox. He was the only relief pitcher out of the bullpen in the League Championship series. He pitched in all four games of the World Series. Neal earned a win in the second game of the World Series.
2000 -- Poettker Construction Company builds a seven room junior high addition to join to join the grade school with the high school
2010 -- On June 30, Summerfield Grade School Closed.
2012 -- Lebanon Community School District # 9 celebrates its 140th Year of Public Education
2015 - April 19 - Lebanon C.U.S.D. #9 celebrates a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for a new Pre-Kindergarten - fifth grade elementary building.
2018 -- LHS Girls Basketball team finished 3rd in State
2020 -- District moves to remote learning on March 16 for the remainder of the school year due to Coronavirus Disease (COVID19)
2022 -- Lebanon Community School District #9 celebrates 150 years of public education.