LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) -- The rain couldn't keep them inside as dozens gathered at PNC Plaza in downtown Louisville to make their voices heard.
"This is our city and will never let any corporation or any big business come and destroy this," Krystal Spencer with Dear JCPS said. "This is our school system."
The target of their ire is the Steering Committee for Action on Louisville's Agenda (SCALA), an invite-only group organized by David Jones Sr., the founder of Humana, consisting of business and community leaders including Mayor Greg Fischer and Papa John's founder John Schnatter. SCALA has been criticized for what some are calling secrecy.
"I don't really see anything wrong with people getting together to talk about our community," Metro Council President David James said. "The problem is when it's done in secret."
"If it was open to the public, they would also understand that we all have roles in our community," Sue Foster, the president of JCAESP-AFSCME Local 411, said.
The rally was called the "This Is Us" march with educators like Foster also criticizing SCALA for turning its focus on the school district without having any JCPS officials in the group.
"We're talking about children. We're not talking about corporate businesses," Foster said. "We're not talking about parts coming down an assembly line. We're talking about our children."
"We're not going to have good schools by secret groups putting together their plan to take over our school system," James said.
The group has also voiced concern that SCALA is trying to undermine the work of the school board and other publically elected leaders while supporting a state takeover of JCPS.
"We have highly educated individuals and board members who are leading our public school system," Foster said. "So let's let them lead."
SCALA has sent new JCPS superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio an invitation to join them. Pollio has said he has not made a decision yet.
WHAS11 has reached out to SCALA through its spokesperson and will update this story once SCALA responds.