The Knoxville branch of the NAACP has been asking for a federal investigation into whether Knox County Schools have been discriminating against areas with a high African-American population.
The NAACP told local media it sent a request to the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights in November asking them to investigate whether Knox County Schools built new schools that may have an adverse impact on students based on race.
The group said $70-$100 million had been spent on construction of Knox County Schools in areas with a 95 percent white population, whereas there has been very little new construction in schools with an African-American population greater than 5 percent.
Schools spokeswoman Melissa Tindell said the district takes the issue "very seriously," and that school leaders will be working with the Office as they investigate the complaint.
