Greetings Lebanon School Community,

As a district we are committed to our mission of Building Community with our focus on being Reflective, Respectful, and Responsible. These expectations are not solely for our students but we believe they are behaviors that we must model as a district and community. Over the past year we have hung these aspirational words on our walls, taught them to our students, and reinforced their significance as we addressed student behaviors. These essential behavioral qualities must be more than just words on posters, they must be the principles that drive decisions and the future of our district.

Over the past six months we have been engaged in a process to develop a district strategic plan and I am anxiously awaiting the final product this fall. We were fortunate to receive input from more than 3,000 stakeholders. I want to thank all of you who participated in this important process because your input will shape the future of our district! When we make decisions based on data, we can be reflective and think before we act, respectfully honor the input of our stakeholders, and responsibly take action to create the type of community we all want to belong to.

I firmly believe that focusing on these positive behaviors will have a lasting impact on our school system and our greater community. It is my hope that when students leave our district they will continue to serve and live in our community as the type of neighbors, employees, and family members that make Lebanon an ideal place to live and work.

I hope you will find that we are living out our mission of Building a Reflective, Respectful, and Responsible Community in every decision that we make. It is an exciting time to be a part of Lebanon City Schools and I am blessed to lead this amazing learning community. Thank you for engaging in the journey as we work to Build Community in all we do.

Onward Lebanon,
Isaac W. Seevers

Superintendent

We can't wait to see all of our Warriors again! We created an online BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE to help you and your student be best prepared for the first day of school - check it out!

Filling out forms annually ensures that we have current contact and emergency medical information, which requires a parent/legal guardian review and signature every year.

CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT FORMS

SCHOOL FEES:

We use PaySchools to process payment online for student fees. It is important that each family pays their student's fees promptly.

Click here for fee info - where to find fees the fees you owe and how to pay them.

Please note: participation fees must be paid prior to the first competition. If you wish to set up a payment plan, contact the Athletic Department or your student's ensemble director.

PRE-PAYING FOR MEALS:

You can also use PaySchools to add money to your child's meal account prior to school starting and to manage their account throughout the school year. Click here to learn how.

We're collecting FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL photos to share on the district's Facebook page. Submit your student's photo here: https://tinyurl.com/3393vt9y

By changing our school building start and dismissal times by 15 minutes, we are able to save approximately $200,000 annually in transportation costs:

• The 15-minute shift at Lebanon High School, Berry Intermediate, Donovan Elementary, and Bowman Primary reduced the total number of bus routes needed
• The shift reduces the number of daily bus driver hours by 20, and reduces driver layover time between routes
• There will be six fewer buses on the road each day, reducing our total number of buses on the road from 67 to 61
• Less routes and less buses on the roads equates to reduced fuel consumption costs plus reduced maintenance costs
• With all of these changes, we were able to maintain all current transportation staff.

Lebanon City School District is implementing a new Personal Communication Device Policy this school year. At Lebanon High School, student use of cell phones will be restricted during instructional time. This decision aligns with our district's mission of building a reflective, responsible, and respectful community, and it has been made with the best interests of our students at heart.

The following reasons guided this decision-making process:

• Responsibility to Reduce Distractions: We seek to remove distractions and reinforce our responsibility to create environments conducive for student learning. Cell phones divert students' attention away from learning and meaningful interactions with peers and staff. By reducing the use of cell phones, we are working to create an environment where students can focus more effectively on learning. Research is clear that multitasking makes it harder for students to focus on important tasks. Attempting to multitask with cell phones threatens students’ executive functioning, which is their ability to shift between situations, control their impulses, and stay organized.
  
  
• Reflect on the Mental Health Impact: We support our mission of fostering reflection and self-awareness in our students. We are encouraging our students to develop responsible habits around technology, helping them manage its impact on their mental and emotional well-being. The effects of constant notifications and prolonged social media engagement is well-documented, with clear connections to increased stress, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.
  
  
• Respectful Social Interaction: We affirm our district’s purposes to promote academic learning AND the development of strong, respectful relationships. We desire for our students to build stronger, face-to-face connections with their peers. This not only enhances their academic performance but also reinforces the importance of respect in their interactions with others. As our society has become increasingly more connected virtually, research suggests that smartphones contribute to loneliness and less physical interaction due to increased screen time.
  
  

Want to learn more? We have compiled resources on our website: https://tinyurl.com/m8mnucdy

Onward Lebanon is our monthly TV program designed to provide insight into our district, our students, our people, and our programs. It airs on the City of Lebanon's Channel 6 and on YouTube. In the latest episode released today, Superintendent Isaac Seevers talks with Dr. Cherie Gibson, Director of Student Services 7-12, Alex Brunk, Lebanon Junior High School Principal, and Tiffany Martin, Berry Intermediate Assistant Principal, about the district's new Personal Communication Device Policy. Check it out!

New this school year, we will accompany our Onward Lebanon videos with a podcast. In this first podcast, called "Perspectives on Parenting and Leading a School in a Digital Era," Superintendent Seevers discusses parenting teenagers in the digital era with Mrs. Martin and Mr. Brunk, offering tips and suggestions for our Warrior families. Check it out!

You can listen to our new podcasts on your favorite podcast platform or watch/download them online here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2390828

Join us as we come together as a community to learn how we can equip ourselves with the knowledge and tools to support our children and protect their mental health during the digital era.

The forum will feature expert panelists from Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center, 1N5, and MindPeace. They will share valuable insights, and you’ll walk away with:

• Increased awareness of youth mental health trends
• Parenting strategies for supporting children
• Resources for addressing mental health challenges, school performance, and digital citizenship

All parents and caregivers are welcome. Please RSVP at this link: https://tinyurl.com/mr45dc6y