Phone Screens Over Students: Hardyston OPRA Findings Confirm the Worst
Last month, we raised an uncomfortable question:
Why were Board President Donna Carey and Vice President Jean Barrett glued to their phones during a student recognition ceremony?
If you missed the original piece, you can catch up here.
At the time, we asked-half wondering, half hoping-if maybe, just maybe, they were handling urgent district business.
So, we decided to find out.
📄 We Filed an OPRA Request-Here’s What We Found
We submitted an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request asking for any phone records from Carey and Barrett during the meeting.
The district’s official response:
“We have searched the District’s records and consulted with all relevant parties regarding your inquiry. Despite our extensive review, we were unable to locate any documents matching your request criteria. As there are no documents that match your request.”
Translation? There was no board business being conducted.
None.
🛲 So… What Were They Really Doing?
If they weren’t handling board work, that leaves a few possibilities:
- 📱 Scrolling through Facebook or Instagram?
- 🎮 Checking Candy Crush scores?
- 💬 Texting dinner plans?
One thing’s crystal clear: it wasn’t the students in front of them.
Students who worked hard-who deserved the spotlight-and instead, got ignored.
💬 Public Service Means Being Present
Being a board member isn’t just about warming a seat at meetings.
It’s about showing up, being engaged, and giving students the respect and attention they deserve.
Because if you can’t even look up from your phone during student awards-what exactly are you doing there?
💬 So We’ll Ask Again:
What was more important than the students that night?
We’d love to hear your thoughts. Drop us a note here.