Free Press Online

Opinion: Team photo sparks anger

Isis Norris, Print Editor in Chief • August 18, 2020

On Sunday, Aug. 16 the Free State football team posted a photo through the @freestatefootball Instagram account. The photo featured 29 players standing shoulder-to-shoulder without masks or social distancing...

School board discusses reopening precautions, met with protests

Isis Norris, Print Editor in Chief • July 14, 2020

On Monday night, the USD 497 School Board held a meeting to discuss how the district will adapt the 2020-21 school year to the current COVID-19 pandemic. In response, the newly-established Kansas for a...

Administration delivers food to students

Brooke Burgess, Reporter • April 26, 2020

When schools closed, many students’ access to steady food supply was cut off. During the past weeks, administration has developed a plan to provide for students in need. “Our goal is to operate...

News Brief: School board relaxes graduation requirements

Jack Bellemere, Reporter • March 23, 2020

After a school board meeting earlier today, USD 497 Executive Director of Communications Julie Boyle announced the school board will reduce the number of credits required for students to graduate high...

Superintendent Lewis outlines continued education

Jack Bellemere, Reporter • March 23, 2020

During an online meeting on Wednesday March 18, Free State journalism editors interviewed USD 497 Superintendent Dr. Anthony Lewis about the district’s plans for the remainder of the school year. In...

USD 497 sues Juul for damages of vaping epidemic

Jack Bellemere, Reporter • February 24, 2020

“I don't think [the administration] outwardly cares about their students,” one anonymous student said when describing their frustration with USD 497’s anti-vaping initiatives. “I think they just...

News Brief: District advises families after potential local Coronavirus case reported

Sabrina Castle, Editor-in-Chief • January 29, 2020

On Tuesday, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment announced a potential case of the Coronavirus at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. After recently visiting Wuhan, China the patient showed respiratory...

News Brief: Board meeting on delayed start time

Isis Norris, Editor • December 11, 2019

At the December 9 board meeting, administration voted on an additional option for students to start their school day at 9:00 a.m. in the 2020-21 school year. This new option is in addition to...

Administration releases new dress code

Sabrina Castle, Editor-in-Chief • November 11, 2019

On November 7, USD 497 Board of Education released an updated dress code draft. More lenient than past policies, the administration seeks to define more open guidelines of appropriate attire. According...

Blocked and Reported: Inaccessible websites restrict curriculum

Ridwan Firman, Reporter • October 9, 2019

Whether in ceramics or ball sports, the internet is an extensive resource that both teachers and students utilize. However, in recent years the full freedom of the web has been restricted as certain websites...

Open parking receives mixed feedback

Brooke Burgess, Reporter • October 8, 2019

In past years, the school’s parking spots have been separated by grade, giving seniors priority to the spots near the front. This year, the lot is open to all grades, giving students who come to school...

School Redesign Part 3: Restorative practices predicted beneficial to students

Jack Bellemere, Reporter • May 17, 2019

When a student gets in trouble at Free State, teachers traditionally “write up” that student, and send them to the office where administrators will dole out their punishment. However, english teacher...