Free State Firebirds flood the new, renovated hallway, clutch their new school supplies, and catch glimpses of their new principal. The year of 2015 is one full of change for Free State, but many students are not aware of the changes they cannot physically see.

In the past, Free State used equity funding, which provides all communities with similar amounts of revenue per student and taxes them at a similar rate. This year, the Kansas Legislature approved USD 497 schools to desert the equity formula and adopt a new mechanism of funding: block grants.

The block grant system of funding provides schools with a certain amount of money for the entire year, no matter the changes that may occur. Some view block grants as cost efficient and resourceful; however, others see them as restrictive and rather dangerous.

“It’s really hard to plan for something as fluid as school funding,” senior Asher Supernaw said.

Difficulties have already risen in the classrooms regarding a lack of textbooks and teachers being asked to count the numbers of copies they make.

“My teachers have been asking that we print stuff at home if possible,” Supernaw said.

School funding is a delicate subject for Kansas citizens.

“Of all the money that gets allocated for the different things throughout the state government, education should be the top, so there is no reason why funding for education should be inadequate,” English teacher Brandon Wolak said.

Many districts, including Olathe Public Schools, have asked for emergency funding.

“I do think that eventually Free State will have to ask for emergency funding because we’re in a stage of growth in Lawrence right now,” Wolak said. “Our freshman class this year is one of the biggest we’ve ever had, and the one coming after it is even bigger, so we’re going to need more resources.”

Although block grants have stirred up anxieties, Wolak sees a possible benefit.

“It could cause teachers to be a little bit more thoughtful about how they use resources,” Wolak said.

Wolak believes budgeting is an important skill to possess, and this new system of funding could help Free State learn this skill.

“The kind of resources we need aren’t really fancy, flashy gadgets,” Wolak said. “We can get more resourceful and figure out how we can go back to making connections with people rather than buying new stuff.”