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 school 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. A new two story school was erected.

​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 the grade school with the high school.

2010 -- On June 30, Summerfield Grade School Closed. Retired LHS teacher Hank Feldt celebrates 50 years of coaching in the District. He was head softball coach for 22 years. During his career he coached seven different sports both male and female, as well as serving as the district’s only Athletic Director until his retirement.

2012 -- Lebanon Community School District # 9 celebrates its 140th year of public education

2015 -- The new Lebanon Elementary Building opened for the 2015 - 2016 school year

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 150th year of public education.