By THOMAS LUCKIE III & JIMMY LAWTON

OGDENSBURG – An Ogdensburg man is threatening legal action against Ogdensburg School District, citing claims that the school principal left him out of the loop on various issues related to his son.

Andrew Ashley, the parent of an Ogdensburg Free Academy High School senior, expressed concerns relating to the alleged conduct of High School Principal Cynthia Tuttle to the Ogdensburg City School District Board of Education at Monday’s meeting.

Ashley addressed the board with concerns that he was being undermined as a parent at a meeting on Monday, June 5, and was told by Board of Education President Ronald Johnson that any action would require an attorney, according to the district’s meeting minutes.

Despite the lack of legal counsel present on Monday, Ashley continued to bring numerous accusations against Tuttle and questioned the integrity of the school district’s administration while addressing the board on the record at a public meeting.

“I was here two weeks ago and I brought up the email situation to you and I’m wondering if you’ve had a chance to review those emails that you said was a very serious charge I was making against your principal,” Ashley said.

Documents provided to NorthCountryNow.com show Tuttle exchanged multiple emails with Lisa S. Horne, executive assistant to Jim France, who is the executive vice president of NASCAR. France is Ashley’s son’s grandfather on the teen’s mother’s side.

The emails show that Tuttle reached out to Horne and asked if she could use her email in lieu of the father’s on an SAT application. In the email Tuttle said she did not have an email address for the father, but Ashley disputes that claim, 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 Ashley’s son’s tuxedo and other items, for which she was apparently reimbursed by France. Other emails discuss NASCAR tickets being provided to members of Tuttle’s family.

Johnson stated that while he did have a chance to look at the emails, he did not wish to state his opinion concerning them at the meeting.

Ashley then presented Johnson with the packaging for his son’s high school class ring.

“I’m just wondering if it’s school policy that all class rings get sent to the principal’s home address?” Ashley said.

“I have no comment on that policy. I’m not aware of it, we can find that out for you,” Johnson said.

When asked by Ashley if he had ever heard of a class ring getting sent to the principal of the school, Johnson said that he had not.

Questions about a check written to the school were then raised by Ashley.

“Another thing I’ve become aware of is also a $5,000 check that was written to the school and, to my knowledge, the board isn’t aware of that either.”
 While Johnson said the board could look into the check in question, Ashley stated that such action would not be necessary, as he already knew the check “happened.”

“Ok then, we won’t look into it,” Johnson said.

District policy states that the Board of Education should approve or reject all donations received and acceptances of donations are regular items on meeting agendas.

Ashley then informed the board that he planned to retain an attorney.

“You asked me the last time when I was here if I had talked to an attorney and I said to you ‘I have,’ but at that point I had not retained an attorney,” Ashley said. “Tomorrow morning I am gonna retain an attorney, I’m just trying to find out whose names need to go on it.”

“If you are going to retain an attorney, then have your attorney contact our attorney with any problems that you see where you feel we have violated the law,” Johnson said.

“That will definitely happen, that will definitely happen,” Ashley said.

The tension of the exchange then heightened as Ashley brought forth allegations of free NASCAR tickets.

“I wanna know how many other people got free NASCAR tickets to go to the races?” Ashley said.

“You don’t have the opportunity to address the crowd,” Johnson interjected.

Ashley then stated he was addressing the board and administration.

“We don’t have to reply to any of that,” Johnson said.

When asked by Johnson if he had any other business to be brought before the board, Ashley stated that his concerns extend beyond the high school principal. 
“I’m trying to get to the bottom of this. How high does it go? I don’t think it stops with the principal,” he said.

“I hope your attorney gets with our attorney as soon as possible and we can get this resolved,” Johnson said.

Ashley then offered some parting words as he retrieved the packaging from his son’s class ring from Johnson.

“I think that’s absolutely ridiculous,” he said. “I mean I think I should have a right as a parent to decide whether my son gets a ring or not, whether my son gets to go to prom or not.”

“That’s enough,” Johnson said.

Superintendent Timothy Vernsey said the school would not provide further comment on the issue due to potential litigation.