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Board approves Feaster Charter renewal after extensive Q&A on academics, attendance and finances
Summary
The Chula Vista Elementary board voted to approve Feaster Charter School's renewal petition for July 2025'030 after a presentation on academic supports, community outreach and a multi-year budget projecting reserves. Trustees questioned literacy programs, class-size commitments and data behind the charter's "middle track" status before approving the renewal unanimously.
The Chula Vista Elementary School District board voted Nov. 14 to approve Feaster Charter School's renewal petition for the period indicated in the petition (presenters corrected the start/end years during the presentation). Feaster Executive Director Rosario Villarria described a two-year renewal process, community outreach (560+ family phone contacts claimed), additions to the charter such as career and technical education pathways, and a multi-year budget that projected an estimated reserve by 2028.
Villarria told the board Feaster reduced chronic absenteeism from 27.6% to 12% and said the school attributes roughly 80% of that improvement to its community schools work and parent engagement strategies. She also outlined instructional supports, including three "impact literacy" teachers and daily instructional aide support providing 20'0 minutes of small-group interventions.
Trustees pressed for evidence on program effectiveness and the charter's "middle track" classification on state dashboard metrics. Questions focused on when the impact literacy program started (Villarria said three years ago), how results are tracked and whether instructional aides and other supports are scheduled consistently across grades. Trustee exchanges examined class-size targets described in the charter (statements in the presentation noted target ratios such as 24:1 in primary grades and specific ratios for other levels) and evaluation-cycle changes for veteran teachers.
After board questioning, Trustee Bishop moved to approve the petition rather than leave the matter as a first reading; the motion was seconded and the board voted in favor. Feaster representatives thanked the board for the approval and committed to continued partnership with the district.
Votes at a glance: the motion to approve Feaster's renewal carried by voice vote with no "no" votes recorded in the transcript. Other administrative items discussed and approved that evening included MOUs with Sweetwater USD for Family Resource Center access and cross-age tutoring (details below), routine personnel promotions and several consent calendar approvals.
What this means: Feaster will remain a dependent charter within the district, continue agreed staffing and safety protocols and proceed under the renewed charter elements that include career-technical education and specified governance changes. The board asked administration to continue monitoring outcomes and to follow up on specific data requests (attendance reductions, literacy program data and reserve projections).
