Hardyston's Crossroads: Policy Power Plays and the Fight for Transparency
Tonight’s Board of Education meeting isn’t just another date on the calendar. It’s a critical moment for Hardyston - and two controversial policies are at the center of it all.
Here’s what’s on the line:
💰 Policy 0174: Who Controls Your Tax Dollars?
Policy 0174 might sound like legal fine print, but let’s call it what it is: a question of who gets to spend your money - and how much you get to know about it.
Board President Donna Carey keeps brushing off concerns with “other districts do it too.” But she’s avoiding the real elephant in the room:
💰 Why have legal expenditures tied to her personal actions topped $20,000?
When leaders expand their own authority over spending-without adding new checks or transparency-it’s not “business as usual.” It’s a red flag.
📄 Policy 5756: A Second Chance to Lead, or a Missed Opportunity?
Also back on the agenda: Policy 5756 on transgender students.
Last year, when reasonable tweaks could’ve addressed community concerns while keeping needed protections, Donna Carey and Tony Alfano refused to lead.
Instead, they made abolishing the policy their “hill to die on,” leaving staff with no clear guidance and the district open to confusion and risk.
Tonight, the board gets a second chance to show whether they care about real governance - or just scoring political points.
📢 The Pattern is Crystal Clear
Over the past few months, a troubling trend has taken shape:
- Caught on phones during student recognition ceremonies-and no, it wasn’t board business.
- Misleading fellow board members about legal consultations.
- Weaponizing ethics complaints to target opponents.
- Expanding authority without adding transparency.
- Ducking questions about taxpayer money and legal fees.
And now, with Policy 0174 back on the table, these issues are front and center.
📈 What’s Really at Stake?
💲 Your Money
Every dollar wasted on political battles is a dollar not spent on your children.
Imagine what $20,000 could have meant:
- Tech upgrades for classrooms
- Extra tutoring for students who need a boost
- More funding for arts and clubs
- Professional development for teachers
Instead? That money went up in legal smoke.
📆 Your School’s Governance
When the board guts policies without offering solid replacements, administrators are left guessing.
That means important decisions get made behind the scenes-with less public accountability and more inconsistency.
Without clear policy, community values take a backseat to personal agendas.
🏛️ Your Presence Matters
If you care about:
- ✅ Fiscal responsibility
- ✅ Real transparency
- ✅ Putting students first
- ✅ Holding elected officials accountable
Then your voice is needed tonight.
🔔 The Questions That Deserve Answers
On Policy 0174 (Legal Services):
- Why expand presidential power without adding checks and balances?
- How much taxpayer money has been spent on personal legal battles?
- Will the board commit to getting itemized legal bills before approving them?
- What safeguards will stop legal resources from being abused again?
On Policy 5756 (Transgender Students):
- What guidance will administrators have if the policy is axed?
- How will compliance with state and federal law be guaranteed?
- Why refuse compromise and insist on total repeal?
- Will leadership finally explain their past refusal to work toward sensible revisions?
👟 Meeting Details
🕒 Time: 7:00 PM
📍 Location: Hardyston Middle School
🔖 Agenda: Available Here
Public comment usually happens right at the start-arrive early if you want to speak.
📉 The Community is Watching
The decisions made tonight will tell us a lot:
- Are we steering toward open, honest leadership?
- Or doubling down on backroom deals and unchecked authority?
Your children. Your schools. Your tax dollars. Your voice matters.
Will you be there?
Share this post with neighbors, friends, and family. The more voices in the room, the louder the message.