Board sets out‑of‑district preschool tuition at $5,000 to allow immediate enrollments

The Lisbon School District Board of Education voted May 26 to set a one‑year out‑of‑district tuition rate of $5,000 for the district’s preschool program to allow families outside the district to enroll this summer.

District staff said they currently have six out‑of‑district families seeking enrollment and approximately 11 slots available within the 53‑seat preschool program. The board approved a flat annual fee (typically collected in 10 payments) for 2026–27 while administration develops a supplemental‑services menu and a process for any special‑education costs that might arise.

Nut graf: Administrators explained state rules governing special‑education responsibility if an out‑of‑district preschool student is identified as eligible. The student’s residing district must determine whether it can provide appropriate services; if not, tuition and related service costs are subject to negotiation and placement decisions through a PPT (child study) team.

Dan (prek lead) and others briefed the board on procedures: if a preschool student enrolling from another district is later found eligible for special education, the PPT will invite representatives from the resident district to coordinate evaluations and placement. "If they're eligible," Dan said, "the residing district must determine whether or not they can appropriately provide free appropriate public education for the student."

Board members discussed capacity, staffing and a staff discount for in‑district employees; the board then voted unanimously on the $5,000 figure so families who had asked for enrollments could make timely decisions.

The board directed administration to return next month with a detailed fee schedule, staffing implications if more out‑of‑district students register, and options for supplemental special‑education services billing.