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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (July 22, 2015)
16A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • July 22, 2015 Polk County Education District considers options to expand Dallas School Board looks at various lots for future elementary school needs By Jolene Guzman The Itemizer-Observer SCOTT GRIMM/for the Itemizer-Observer Zachery Warner as Orlando and Ollie Bergh as Touchstone prepare to duel as Julia Sjakous as Rosalind looks on. WOU theater takes it outside Valley Shakespeare Company to perform ‘As You Like It’ at outdoor stage By Emily Mentzer The Itemizer-Observer MONMOUTH — For one weekend only, Western Ore- gon University’s outdoor stage will be transformed into a Shakespeare festival, or at least kind of like that. “One weekend doing the same show does not a festi- val make,” said David Janoviak, director of “As You Like It.” “But we want to cre- ate a festival environment.” “As You Like It” will be produced by WOU’s Valley Shakespeare Company, a new endeavor headed by Janoviak. “We’ve been talking about doing summer Shakespeare in the outdoor theater for years,” Janoviak said. “I come from a strong back- ground in outdoor Shake- Enjoy the show What: Western Oregon University’s Valley Shakespeare Company presents, “As You Like It,” by William Shakespeare. Where: WOU’s outdoor amphitheater, outside of Rice Au- ditorium. When: Curtain is at 7:30 p.m. on July 29 through Aug. 1. Admission: Free. Of note: Bring a chair or blanket to enjoy lawn seating at this festival-like show. Seating starts at 6:30 p.m. speare, and really wanted to give it a try.” Per for mances, which begin at 7:30 p.m. July 29 through Aug. 1, are free to the public. The show features lawn seating. Performing Shakespeare has inherent challenges. Add to that the unknowns of outdoor theater, and the actors involved are in for a change of scene. “As You Like It” is one of Shakespeare’s easier-to-un- derstand works, Janoviak said. The play has been set in the 1920s dustbowl era. And, if the actors are doing their jobs well, audi- ence members of all ages will understand what’s going on. Western’s summer show is always different, said Janelle Davis, who plays Celia. Davis has never played a lead role in a Shakespeare play, nor has she performed in an outdoor setting. That goes for fellow actor Belladina Starr, who plays Phebe. “All the things that could happen,” Starr said of the outdoor stage. “Birds, bugs, traffic (noise), audience, sweat.” “Sweat!” Davis and actor Ollie Bergh, who plays Touchstone, chimed in. “I’ll be wearing an argyle sweater,” Bergh said. “Luckily, we start later in the evening,” Starr noted. As for the play itself, Bergh said Shakespeare takes a different sort of com- mitment than other plays he has done. See THEATER, Page 14A DALLAS — The Dallas School Board approved at a real estate option agreement that allows the district flexibility in selecting a future school site — if needed — in Dallas’ Barberry node development. Approved earlier this year, the 122-acre mixed use devel- opment had a condition of approval to include space for parks and/or a school site. The original plan was to offer the district a chance to purchase The Motor-Vu Drive-In property to fulfill that condition. In the agreement still includes that option, but offers an alternative that allows the district to select another nine- acre site elsewhere in the development at a future time. Also, purchasing the drive-in property would need to happen within 18 months and cost $1.25 million, with nonrefundable two confidence payments of totaling $100,000 paid before that deadline to keep the option open. Only $60,000 would be applied to the purchase price if the sale is made. If the district does not purchase the drive-In property, the first right to buy the property moves to the city of Dal- las. The city would also have 18 months to purchase the property or the option terminates. The district’s alternative, option B, allows it to select a parcel of nine acres at some point in the future, as long as it is before the last phase construction begins. No specific location is provided in the agreement be- sides that it be “in the northern one-third” of the develop- ment. A purchase price is defined as “fair market value” at the time the district gives notice it wants to purchase prop- erty. Also under that option is an alternative to split the prop- erty with the city, with the district buying six acres and the city three to use as park space. Assistant Superintendent Dennis Engle said the agree- ment went through several revisions before the version the board approved Monday. “Option B meets several needs of the district,” he said. “It allows the option to acquire property for an elementary school-sized footprint within the planned Barberry node, should in fact, that need arise.” The second option doesn’t require the district to buy land or any up-front investment by the district do so. In other business, the board: • Approved Dennis Engle’s performance evaluation for the time he served as interim superintendent during the 2014-15 school year. Engle led the district through the transition between former superintendent Christy Perry and new Superintendent Michelle Johnstone. “The board commends Dennis for his outstanding work during the interim period, and for maintaining the high standards of the district,” the evaluation read. “His leader- ship provided stability in a time of transition and kept the district focused on meeting the needs of the children en- trusted to our care.”
