Lebanon schools outline 2026 Tiger Cubs pre-K center, open enrollment and staffing plan

Lebanon Community School Corp leaders presented detailed plans on March 18 to open a district-run pre-kindergarten program they are calling Tiger Cubs beginning with the 2026–27 school year.

The district plans to locate the new program primarily at the current Central Elementary building on William Street, using about 65% of that building for five pre-K classrooms and developmental special-education preschool. Two additional pre-K classrooms have been designed at Perry Worth Elementary. The new Central Elementary building opening in 2025–26 will temporarily house additional developmental pre-K space while current Central is renovated into the pre-K center and central offices.

Why it matters: District leaders said the program responds to community needs identified during the operating referendum outreach and countywide studies showing underserved early-childhood services. Officials said offering a public pre-K could reduce costs for families and expand access for children who otherwise could not attend.

The program design and access The district said classrooms will be staffed with certified teachers and instructional assistants to meet ratio expectations under Paths to Quality and On My Way Pre-K voucher requirements. Officials described an expected class model with a teacher and an instructional assistant and noted a typical class size target of about 20 students, with the teacher-to-student ratio conforming to PathstoQuality levels and voucher requirements.

Missus Inman, identified in the meeting as the district’s director of elementary and early learning, said the district will post a principal position for the site in the coming months so a leader can oversee enrollment, marketing and partner outreach. Inman said the district plans a clerical staff member, a nurse, custodial coverage and an administrator dedicated to the program.

Funding, cost and enrollment The district said Tiger Cubs will operate as a tuition-based program but signaled it will accept On My Way Pre-K vouchers from the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) to ensure financial access for lower-income families. Officials said they will also pursue grants—both governmental and private—to offset tuition costs.

District staff said there will be no district-run bus transportation for the pre-K program at opening. The special-education preschool component will continue to receive district transportation as required. The board was told the district is planning before- and after-school partner options and potential summer enrichment but that parents will initially be responsible for daily transportation.

Officials said the district will not impose residency restrictions; seats will be prioritized for faculty and staff children first, then to reflect the community. If demand exceeds capacity, the district said it may use a lottery to allocate seats.

Timeline and next steps The district plans to start the pre-K center for four-year-olds in August 2026 and to post the building principal position this spring. Officials said a marketing and enrollment push would begin in late 2025 to align with other early-childhood enrollment cycles. The board was told renovation work on the existing Central Elementary will proceed to convert classroom and office space ahead of the program opening.

Ending: School leaders said the Tiger Cubs program is intended to complement existing early-childhood providers and to expand access in Lebanon, while emphasizing ongoing evaluation of enrollment, staffing and funding in the program’s first years.