Parents and community members call for investigations into school leadership, transparency and handling of safety incidents

Two public forum speakers at the Nov. 6 meeting called on the board to investigate alleged failures in leadership, transparency and accountability at Knox County Schools.

Candice Bannister said district leaders failed to hold an administrator accountable despite prior written complaints and alleged that the district merely moved that administrator to another school without investigation or retraining. Bannister contrasted that response with what she described as a more immediate response after a separate apparent gas incident at Hardin Valley Academy, where an administrator was placed on paid leave while an investigation occurred. "You will bear the ramifications of your negligence and lack of responsibility for the rest of your lives," Bannister told the board, adding that her family lost a son and that six students at a high school died by suicide; she said district action had been inadequate.

Tierra Lady Wilson asked the board to investigate Austin East Freshman Academy principal Rekia Foster, alleging a lack of transparency around Title I and homecoming fundraising, limited parental notice of parental-council meetings and disciplinary practices that exclude parents. "Because of people like Rekia Foster...we need checks and balances," Wilson said, and asked the board to investigate how homecoming funds and Title I budgets have been handled.

Both speakers framed their remarks as requests for investigation and accountability. The board did not provide an on-the-record response during public forum.