SOCM

04/24/2026

Knoxville showed up for their kids, teachers, and community.👏

"There's not enough cash to fund two school systems," said school board member Katherine Bike. "And if you want to fund a school system for every single student in the state of Tennessee, that's public education," https://www.wate.com/news/top-stories/public-school-supporters-in-knox-county-rally-against-failed-voucher-expansion/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_WATE_6_On_Your_Side

04/23/2026

We hope to see you tonight, Knoxville. Come out, meet your neighbors, share your voice, and get involved!

04/22/2026

Since last winter, the McMinn County Neighbors SOCM chapter has been running a door-knocking/listening campaign in North Athens, focused on gathering resident input about the future use of public land where the former North City Elementary School was torn down. Last Monday, after months of door-knocking, a team of residents presented the results of over 165 completed surveys at the Athens City Council work session. Based on the survey results, the requests of city council are:

1. Keep the old North City School land for public, community use. Do not sell the land for private development.

2. City staff and/or council members participate in a series of community meetings with McMinn County Neighbors and area residents beginning in the late Summer or Fall and continuing through 2027 (details in the submitted handout)

Last Tuesday, 19 residents turned up to the full City Council meeting to ask that the city council put these items on a work session agenda for the summer! We're excited by the positive feedback from city council and to work on next steps together!

04/21/2026

URGENT CALL TO ACTION: Tell your lawmakers to vote NO on unlimited private school vouchers in Tennessee.

THIS IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

EMAIL: https://bit.ly/fundourschoolstn
CALL: https://bit.ly/vouchercallscript2026

After winning expansion of Gov. Lee's voucher scam, billionaire-funded interests are seeking to expand the older and more expensive ESA private school voucher program--and it is moving.

Instead of focusing on the real needs of kids in Tennessee, lawmakers are using the last week of the session to expand the ESA program into Knox County, increase income limits to allow wealthier families to receive private school vouchers, remove the cap on vouchers available, and remove already limited reporting requirements. These changes will directly impact districts' local budgets, meaning fewer resources for already stretched-thin schools.

It’s bad enough our state tax dollars are funding vouchers to subsidize private school tuition for wealthy families; now they’re coming after our local tax dollars as well.

Our kids deserve more, not less. HB1811/SB1585 will strip our students of the resources they need to thrive in order to fund a wealthy few. Take action TODAY to stop the scam.

04/21/2026

👏👏👏

Next Wednesday, join this stellar line-up of scholars for a discussion about the growing inequalities in rural America, with a focus on how we shift power in the face of the decline of fossil fuels and climate change.

Joining us in-person? Come early to the UT Winston College of Law (Room 132) for dinner from tariks.northafrican, and stay for a dessert & coffee reception with the panelists after the program. John Gaventa and Gabe Schwartzman’s new book, Power and Just Transitions: Struggles for a Post-Coal Future in an Appalachian Valley as well as Loka Ashwood’s most recent book - Empty Fields, Empty Promises: A State-by-State Guide to Understanding and Transforming the Right to Farm - will be available for purchase before the event from unionavebooks.

Want to watch live online? RSVP here to receive the webcast link: tiny.utk.edu/JustTransitions2026. A recording will also be available for anyone who can’t make it.

04/21/2026

On Saturday, a team of Anderson County retired teachers and other community members met with SOCM Executive Director Austin Sauerbrei for a workshop on "Cutting an Effective Organizing Issue". The workshop was focused on developing a shared understanding of the characteristics of a good organizing issue, developing an issue "hypothesis", and what it would look like to run a listening campaign in a particular part of the county. The team developed two possible issue hypotheses and left with research homework ahead of a next-steps meeting in May, where they will determine whether they want to run a listening campaign with SOCM this summer!

04/19/2026

The Knox County Education Coalition/SOCM Public School Strong Team had a great turnout for their Open House yesterday afternoon! At each station, attendees had the chance to talk with an informed member on a different topic. They also filled out surveys sharing their hopes for Knox County Schools and provided feedback on current issues. There was even a Kid's Corner!

We're building a strong group of Public School Strong members in Knox County and across the state. To join your local PSS team (or start one of your own), attend the Public School Strong Orientation tomorrow (Monday, April 20th) evening. Go to linktr.ee/socmpubliced to register.

04/18/2026

Sumner County School Board Candidate Town Hall (Part 2)

04/18/2026

Sumner County School Board Candidate Town Hall

04/18/2026

Sumner County School Board Candidate Town Hall (First Half)