CSLA supporters mass at the Hamilton County Courthouse with a message: 'It's our turn'

Brothers, Calen Finch, 10, and Kieram Finch, 6, from left, hold up signs Sunday at the Hamilton County Courthouse to advocate getting funds from the county commission for a new building for the Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts.

Dana Cleckler, Evelyn Cleckler, 10, Emory Brandon, 4, and Elizabeth Cleckler, 7, from left, make signs on the lawn of the Hamilton County Courthouse to protest the lack of funding CSLA has received from the county.

Poll

Is this CSLA's year? Should it get money for a new building?

Distraught supporters of Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts who feel they have no representatives on the county commission have set up camp to advocate on their own behalf.

Literally.

As the sun set on downtown Chattanooga Sunday, dozens of CSLA parents, students and supporters established headquarters on the front lawn of the county courthouse to protest Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger's school building proposal that, if approved Wednesday, will omit the $40 million needed to construct a new building for CSLA.

"We don't have a voice inside that courthouse," said Dana Cleckler, who has three children at CSLA. "We're not a big enough entity in any one district to make noise and threaten a candidacy."

The parents acknowledged commissioner Tim Boyd as an ally, but they're at a loss for how to persuade other officials on the immediate needs at their National Blue Ribbon School at 6579 East Brainerd Road.

Children held signs supporting CSLA and shouted and waved to cars as they passed by.

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CSLA supporters mass at the Hamilton County Courthouse with a message: 'It's our turn'