Principal Melissa Dutra has sifted through 514 teacher applications, met with countless parents and helped outline a strict student dress code in preparing to open Dailey Charter Elementary School in Fresno.

This isn't just any school -- it's a new concept. Fresno Unified School District created a nonprofit organization to operate the school independent of the district, a move that allows for nonunion teachers and longer school hours.

The K-5 school is set to open Aug. 16 near Shields and Palm avenues in central Fresno and will incorporate the academically rigorous International Baccalaureate program, allowing students to transfer smoothly into IB programs at Wawona Middle and Fresno High schools.

This is all new territory for Dutra, who last worked as principal at Fresno Unified's Wilson Elementary School. She quit the district and is now employed by Fresno Innovative Charter Schools, the nonprofit organization it set up. She answers to the organization's seven-member board, which is made up of three Fresno Unified officials and four community members.

"It's such an innovative and exciting school to open," Dutra said.

So far, more than 100 students have enrolled at Dailey, where Spanish language classes will be part of the mandatory curriculum. Officials hope for more than 200 to enroll by the start of school.

All instruction will be heavily based on the development of listening and speaking skills. Visual and performing arts are also part of the school's program.

Dailey will eventually employ 17 certificated teachers when enrollment is at full capacity, about 360 students. The school is also hiring music, art and Spanish teachers -- who are not required to be state certificated, said Dutra.

School days will be longer at Dailey than at traditional schools, adding the equivalent of about 43 days of instruction. Dutra said teachers are being paid about 2% more than they would earn at most districts in the region, with annual salaries ranging from $40,000 to $55,000, based on experience.

Dutra said only one teacher hired for Dailey already had tenure elsewhere, and that teacher is taking a one-year leave of absence from Fresno Unified.

The others were teachers who either were laid off or were probationary or temporary teachers without tenure.

All are taking their jobs at Dailey without knowing what health and benefits will be provided, because those are still being negotiated, Dutra said.

Students will adhere to a strict dress code: No baggy pants. No jeans. All part of an effort to keep students focused on learning, instead of competing with one another.

Parent Rachel Ocampo, who just moved from Madera to Fresno, said she likes what Dailey is offering and has already enrolled three daughters and a son -- ages 5, 6, 7 and 8.

"It will be a nice, small environment and they will challenge my kids," she said.

Siblings Sayde and Isaiah Fuentes, ages 6 and 9, are also enrolled. "I wanted a change for my kids," said mom Georgina Hernandez.

Hernandez said she is comfortable moving her kids from Wilson to Dailey because they already know Dutra, Wilson's former principal. And unlike the private schools she was considering, Dailey is free, she said.

Not everyone loves Fresno's newest educational concept, however.

The Fresno Teachers Association is perturbed that Dailey teachers won't belong to the union that represents Fresno Unified teachers. Union officials -- along with others -- also question whether the school really will be independent.