[FrankJ]

Sounds like the board & the principal are in a turf war. (I am sure the principal is calling it "Academic Integrity"). Unfortunately the fix involves a time machine. You need to sell the principal on the educational value of the program for next year. A big advantage if your does Chairmans stuff in addition to building the robot. Don't expect the principal (& others) to do the research on their own.

How do I feel? Work missed should be made up. Time should be allowed for this. The absences should be excused following the same policy as other field trips & sporting events. They should turn the basketball gym into a double FRC field.

We have run into the the problem at a lower level with our principal strongly supporting the team & some teachers being very rigid with assignment & test dates.

Sorry since is not much help for your predicament.