KNOXVILLE (WATE) – People are rallying outside the City-County Building in downtown Knoxville Wednesday afternoon ahead of a school board meeting to protest what they call the “destabilization of schools in Knox County” through “unexplained transfers” and non-renewals of teachers.Previous story: Non-renewed Knox County teacher speaks to school board

Students, Parents & Educators Across Knox County, or SPEAK, says dismissing teachers and staff without reason causes uncertainty for children, parents and teachers and doesn’t promote conditions needed for positive and productive school communities.

The group is asking the Board of Education and Knox County Schools administration to rescind recent transfers and non-renewals, provide a transparent process to ensure staffing changes are reasonable and legal, and engage with community members to help create strong, vibrant schools.

“Teachers need to be set up to do a good job not set up for failure. They need to be told if they’re doing something wrong,” said Kelly Wright, a Knox County parent who organized the rally. “It needs to be discussed with them, they need to be given a reason for being non renewed. That’s unacceptable. Nobody should be treated that way especially our teachers who teach our future.”