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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 4, 2015)
20A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • February 4, 2015 Polk County Schools/Education SCHOOL NOTES School robotics event set Saturday DALLAS — Dallas High School and LaCreole Middle School are hosting the second-annual Dallas Robotics Tournament Sat- urday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The high school event will host more than 30 teams from Oregon and Washington, including six from Dallas High. New this year, and held in conjunction with the high school tournament, is LaCreole’s VEX IQ competition solely for middle school robotics teams. Community members are welcome to attend both competi- tions, to be held in the DHS forum and cafeteria, 1250 SE Hol- man Ave. For more information: 503-623-8336. MVCA spelling bee placers named MONMOUTH — Mid-Valley Christian Academy has an- nounced its contest winners entered in the District Spelling Bee sponsored by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) on Jan. 16. The winners are: Makenzie White, second grade, first place; Roman Robbins, second grade, fourth place; Isaac McIntyre, third grade, fourth place; Heidi Kershner, fourth grade, second place; and Levi Schrock, fifth grade, third place, and participant in the second round for those with first- through fourth-place awards in grades 5-8. The district competition included six Christian schools, both small and large in enrollment. The next ACSI district event for MVCA is the speech meet on Feb. 27 at Sonshine Christian School in Salem. For more information: MVCA, 503-838-2818. EMILY MENTZER/ Itemizer-Observer The cast of “Oklahoma!” pauses for a big finish after singing the musical’s namesake theme song about the territory. Take a trip to the Wild West Large, high-energy Central High cast to stage ‘Oklahoma!’ By Emily Mentzer The Itemizer-Observer INDEPENDENCE — Han- nah Boyack leaves her heart on the stage in Central High School’s performance of “Oklahoma!” which opens Thursday night. Boyack’s character, Laurey Williams, is joined by a high- energy cast of 50, all singing, dancing — and occasionally fighting — in the 1906 Okla- homa Territory. The result of so many doing so much onstage at the same time is an emo- tion-packed experience for the audience member, with laughs, gasps, surprises and maybe even some tears. Per for mers also go through a ream of emotions during the production. For Jacob Eschette, who plays Jud Fry, “Oklahoma!” has been exhausting. “This is not my first time EMILY MENTZER/ Itemizer-Observer Hannah Boyack and Sterling Sykes, as Laurey and Curly, leave the box social arm in arm after Curly wins a heated auction showdown with Jud, Laurey’s would-be suitor. playing a villain,” the CHS junior said. “But it is the first time playing a real villain.” His previous villain role was playing Gaston in Cen- tral’s fall production of “Beauty and the Beast.” Gas- ton is “cheesy and fake” compared to Jud, Eschette said. “It’s a real difference,” he said. “It’s tiring in every way — mentally, physically. He’s so hateful and mean all the time.” Eschette said he doesn’t let that hateful attitude fol- low him offstage, adding that he acts the part, and doesn’t let the part act him. The show has drama, with an intense fight be- tween Jud and Curly, played by Sterling Sykes, resulting in a death. Eschette said “Oklahoma!” might not be appropriate for some young children if they’re afraid of death. “It’s a good show, though, don’t get me wrong,” he said. “It’s tiring, but I love every second of it or I wouldn’t be here.” The musical also has love, with multiple couples trying to find their match-up, as evidenced through the opening of the second act at the box social. See ‘OKLAHOMA!’, Page 19A Medical scholarships are available DALLAS — Applications for West Valley Hospital Foundation scholarships, for students in medically-related fields of study, are now available. Applicants must live in Polk County or be a current employee or family member of a current employee at West Valley Hospi- tal, and must have applied to a college in their field of study be- fore applying for this scholarship. Applications must be returned by March 27. For more information: 503-831-3456; www.salemhealth.org/scholarships, and click the West Valley Hospital Foundation Scholarship link. Dallas Lions offering scholarship DALLAS — Dallas Lions Club is offering a $1,000 scholarship to a graduating high school student who is a resident of Dallas. The funds are to be used for tuition at an accredited univer- sity, college or vocational school. Students graduating from Dallas High School, Morrison Campus, an accredited home- school program or online school program are eligible to apply. Applications are available at the Dallas High School guidance o ffi c e o r b y g o i n g o n l i n e a n d v i s i t i n g h t t p : / / e - clubhouse.org/sites/dallasor/index.php. For consideration, all in- formation must be received by April 1. Completed applications can be submitted to the Dallas High School guidance office or Teresa Ozias at Shetterly Irick & Ozias, located at 189 SW Acade- my St., Dallas. For more information: 503-623-6695. ACADEMIC HONORS Local student garners recognition STAUNTON, Va. — Wendy Deptula of Monmouth has been named to the fall 2014 honors list at Mary Baldwin College. Stu- dents named to the honors list earned grade-point averages of 3.75 to 4.00. To be eligible, a student must be a degree candidate and must have earned at least 12 semester hours for the grading period. Deptula is a 2012 graduate of Central High School. DSD eyes facility use policy update By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer www.LesSchwab.com DALLAS — The Dallas School District Board is in the process of revising its policy regarding community use of its schools and facili- ties. At issue in the revision is the longstanding policy — adopted in 2002 with just minor amendments since — was in need of clarity, espe- cially with a new superinten- DALLAS 121 Main St. • 503-623-8155 INDEPENDENCE 1710 Monmouth St. • 503-838-6340 Mon-Fri 8AM - 6PM • Sat 8AM - 5PM Prices good through 2/28/15 dent taking over in July. “There was some confu- sion related to the current policy,” said Interim Super- intendent Dennis Engle, adding it left too much open to interpretation. The policy has been dis- cussed at a number of board meetings since the begin- ning of the school year and will continue to be discussed over the next few months. Another part of the dis- cussion is the cost of allow- ing outside organizations to use facilities, and possible fees to compensate for that. The board is also consider- ing how the district should address requests from or- ganizations that clearly ben- efit students or offer activi- ties the district doesn’t have the funding to provide itself. Examples are the Dallas Mat Club or Dallas Basketball As- sociation, among other simi- lar organizations serving Dallas-area students. Engle presented the board a new draft of the policy, en- titled “Community Use of School Facilities and Equip- ment,” on Jan. 26. The draft included a list of “guiding principles” for facil- ity use. “The school district de- sires to provide the opportu- nity for community use of specific district facilities,” the first “guiding principle” read. “This use should come with minimal impact on the facilities or fiscal resources.” The policy also stated use includes fixed and in-place equipment, but not “use of services, supplies, and non- fixed or stored equipment” and organizations that have the use fee waived “will not have custodial, other service fees or equipment fees waived.” “Use fees cover only serv- ices provided at a minimal level,” defined as “ensuring the space is clean, available, and secured by on-duty staff following use.” Engle said the board won’t be working on the policy at its next meeting on Monday, but it will be on the agenda again soon. He added the district wel- comes input from the public on the process and what will end up being the new policy adopted by the board. “I just want to make sure people have plenty of time to see this,” Engle said. To view the entire current draft of the policy, see the Jan. 26 Dallas School Board meeting packet available at www.dallas.k12.or.us/school _board.htm. For more information or to comment on the draft pol- icy, call the district at 503- 623-5594.