As only a single part of the myriad people who have come and gone through the Free State doors for the past 13 years, one rarely stops to consider how each unseen element of our school comes together to form a unified body. The many components of Free State not seen by students consist of dark rooms, stacks of equipment, power generators and even a third floor. Welcome to the Free State “Behind the Walls” field guide.

The Third Floor: This obscure attic of the building houses air conditioners, back up servers and extra desks. Several buildings house these necessities above the second floor classrooms. The third floor can only be accessed by the mid-hallway elevator. Doors from the main third floor building lead out onto the roof where other third floor buildings can be accessed.
Who has access: Administration, tech staff and janitorial staff.
What you didn’t know about the third floor: When the temperature rises the asphalt on the roof becomes squishy. Originally the architects of the school planned a green house above the library, it would be accessed by a door in room 253.
Excitement level: 4/5

Kitchen: The only place busier than the hallways is the school kitchen. The staff also cook and send food to four local elementary schools, the Bert Nash Health Center, the school district building and the All-Star Pizza & Grill.The kitchen can be accessed through the hallway adjacent to the auditorium.
Who has access: Administration, janitorial staff and kitchen staff.
What you didn’t know about the kitchen: The kitchen has a staff locker-room and a walk-in freezer. Those cookies served in the cafeteria are made with whole-wheat ingredients.
Excitement level: 4/5

Press Box: A part of the anonymous donor’s addition to the football complex offers shelter and a great view of the football field to those important enough not to have to sit in the stands. The press box is accessed via stairs behind the west stadium.
Who has access: Administrative staff, team coaches and local media outlets.
What you didn’t know about the press box: A ladder leads to the roof where camera crews film the games. The scoreboard is controlled from a console inside the press box.
Excitement level: 3/5

The Costume Closet: Located above the sound booth via a spiral staircase, the costume closet houses all the clothing used in theatre productions. Hundreds of articles of clothing line the walls and props are strewn on shelves.
Who has access: Performing arts teachers and janitorial staff.
What you didn’t know about the costume closet: The closet offers a locked entrance into the “secret room”.
Excitement level: 3/5

The “Secret Room”: With expansive concrete walls and dusty floors, this rarely seen room wasn’t even known to exist by choir director Hilary Morton until 2009. The room can only be accessed through a door in the costume closet.
Who has access: Performing arts teachers, administration, tech staff and janitorial staff.
What you didn’t know about the “secret room”: The room contains computer hardware, stacks of broken chairs and a ladder leading to the roof above the auditorium.
Excitement level: 4/5

The Catwalks: The scariest and most exciting views of the auditorium are found from the catwalks above the seats. These lofty metal grates offer theatre and choir faculty access to the auditorium lights, which are controlled from the sound booth.
Who has access: Janitorial staff and performing arts teachers.
What you didn’t know about the catwalks: With the catwalks constructed using metal, lights workers bring up sleeping bags to lay on while adjusting lights for theatre productions.
Excitement level: 5/5

Firebird Productions Studio: Easily the most laid back location in the field guide, the Firebird Productions Studio is located within the Firebird Productions office, Room 134. Miscellaneous rap music plays while film students discuss various responsibilities for school event videos.
Who has access: Firebird Productions students, film staff and janitorial staff.
What you didn’t know about the studio: The room contains lights, a stage, sound systems and a Foghorn Leghorn doll.
Excitement level: 3/5