After serving as the Director of Orchestras program for 11 years at the school, Judy Erpelding has announced her resignation, effective May 26.
With this position being her first teaching job, she...
The USD 497 Board of Education voted to close Pinckney and Broken Arrow Elementary on Monday in an attempt to bridge the $9.6 million budget deficit.
Despite two public hearings at Broken Arrow...
On Monday, Feb. 27, the USD 497 Board of Education hosted a board meeting to hear administration and community input, in addition to the Future Planning Committee’s final proposal.
“We have cut,...
For six years, USD 497 high school students have been provided with MacBooks for school; however, the school board has opted to transition to iPads next year.
The board made the decision on Jan. 23,...
Last night, the USD 497 Board of Education voted to transition high school student devices from MacBooks to iPads in the fall. The vote passed six-to-one.
The USD 497 news release from last night's...
While any job has its own set of challenges, a poll from the nation’s largest teachers union said 55% of teachers are hoping to leave education earlier than planned. Locally, since the start of the...
Yesterday, the USD 497 Board of Education decided to cut two library media specialists and implement $6.4 million worth of other budget cuts.
The new proposal will instead cut only two certified library...
During tonight’s USD 497 Board of Education meeting, members announced that closing schools for the upcoming school year will not be a consideration.
"The proposals in front of us are not the right...
The FireLions gymnastics team is in danger of being shut down, according to executive director of communications Julie Boyle. The proposal is in part to make up for the district’s $2 million budget...
A MoveOn Petition to “Recall Sam Brownback” with upwards of 30,000 signatures from all over the country, a New York Times article questioning the state’s financial plan and plenty of other national...
At the end of a school year more than just seniors will be leaving Free State. Teachers are leaving as well. Some are leaving due to district budget cuts, some are leaving because they have found new opportunities...
![After receiving advice from her students, orchestra director Judy Erpelding marks her music. Although the director normally makes the artistic decisions, Erpelding will often consult her students and hear their opinions on what sounds good and what they should try out. “[The students] are the heart of the program, not me,” Erpelding said. “I know they will carry that on and I will miss them. Making great music with them, being able to challenge them, taking their inspiration.”](https://www.fsfreepressonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Roust_Erpelding_5_11_23-600x900.jpg)
