By THOMAS LUCKIE III

OGDENSBURG – At their May 17 meeting, the Ogdensburg City School District Board of Education approved four sports merger agreements with Morristown Central School District for the upcoming fall season.

Mergers were approved for girls varsity cross country, girls varsity swimming, boys modified football and boys junior varsity football.

Board members raised questions pertaining to the district’s academic eligibility requirements of student athletes participating in Ogdensburg Free Academy sports through merger agreements. That came up during a review and discussion of the 2017-18 district code of conduct.

Athletic Director Anthony Bjork stated that student athletes from other districts have been held to the academic standards of their respective schools, which resulted in concern from several board members.

The district’s overall policy relating to academic performance standards for students participating in extra-curricular activities, including athletics, was also questioned during the discussion.

Currently, students failing two credit bearing courses will be immediately placed on probation and will have 10 school days to raise one of the classes to a passing grade and be removed from probation.

Students placed on probation are allowed to practice and participate in games or events.

If the student placed on probation is unable to raise one class grade to passing within the 10 days, the student is placed on suspension. Students placed on suspension are still allowed to practice but cannot participate in games or events.

Any student failing three or more credit bearing courses is immediately placed on suspension.

High School Principal Cynthia Tuttle and administrative intern Matthew Tessmer, who were present to discuss proposed revisions to the code of conduct, will continue the discussion with the board and administration at the next regular meeting on Monday, June 19.