By THOMAS LUCKIE III

OGDENSBURG – Andrew Ashley, the parent of a recently graduated Ogdensburg Free Academy student has renewed his threat of legal action against the school.

His address to the board followed an email to NorthCountryNow.com, in which he included a notice of claim that describes his intent to seek $17 million in damages stemming from what he calls inappropriate behavior of the high school principal Cindy Tuttle.

While the claim has been shared with school officials, Ashley had not filed it with the courts as of Monday night.

The brief exchange marked the fourth time Ashley has addressed the board during a public meeting.

“I would like to get your attorney’s contact information this evening, if that’s possible,” Ashley said.

Superintendent Timothy Vernsey responded that the district’s attorney is Andrew Silver “right here in Ogdensburg on State Street.”

Ashley then asked if the board was covered by “board insurance.”

“Mr. Silver has recommended that we not discuss any of this business with you and please direct all of your questions to him and he will answer them,” Johnson said.

“I look forward to it, you all have a great evening,” Ashley said.

While Ashley stated after the meeting that a potential lawsuit is in progress, he noted it is currently under notice of claim while he waits on an actual claim.

The claim is made against Ogdensburg City School Board of Education, Cindy Tuttle in her capacity as Principal of Ogdensburg Free Academy and Richard Christy in his capacity as the Guidance Coordinator of the Ogdensburg Free academy for negligent supervision and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Ashley initially addressed the board with concerns that he was being undermined as a parent at a meeting on Monday, June 5 and followed up with allegations of what he claims to be inappropriate emails between High School Principal Cindy Tuttle and Lisa Horne, assistant to his son’s maternal grandfather Jim France, who is the executive vice president of NASCAR.

Documents provided to NorthCountryNow.com show numerous email exchanges between Tuttle and Horne, including Tuttle asking Horne if she could use Horne’s email in lieu of the father’s on an SAT application, without Ashley’s knowledge. Ashley disputes Tuttle’s claim that she did not have his email address and provided proof that he had received emails from the school in the past.

The emails also show that Tuttle was involved in the purchase of a tuxedo for Ashley’s son and other items, for which she was apparently reimbursed by France. Ashley alleges that these interactions also happened without his knowledge.

Other emails discuss NASCAR tickets being provided to members of Tuttle’s family.

Ashley continued to press for more answers at board meetings on Monday, June 19 and Wednesday, July 5 while also mentioning a potential lawsuit. Board President Ronald Johnson stated that Ashley should simply have his attorney contact the school district’s attorney and that the board would further investigate some of Ashley’s concerns, including reading the aforementioned emails, among others.