It's very exciting education-wise, and it's also exciting to make important decisions. Because we're a charter, we don't necessarily have to have a principal that's like a principal in other schools. For example, Clear View teachers have been able to restructure the school day to provide time for teachers to meet and discuss such topics as student progress and the development of schoolwide standards. In the long run, it will benefit our students. Jim Dieckmann says working in a charter school has unified the 29 teachers.
Teachers are more involved in leadership, academic areas and grant writing.
A charter school causes the teaching staff to focus on the same goals and how to get there. Clear View made it a priority to retain strong union ties, unlike some charters. We had a good rapport with our union. When the charter was finished, we asked the association president to read it and give us feedback. The Mae L. Feaster School is the closest thing that Chula Vista has to an inner-city school.