Policy 5756: Why Real Leadership Means Governing, Not Abandoning
There’s a lot on the agenda for Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting-but Policy 5756 is the one that’s sparking real debate.
This policy, which provides guidance around transgender students, has become a flashpoint. And instead of working toward reasonable solutions, some board members seem determined to either wipe it out completely or ignore chances to refine it responsibly.
You can check the full agenda here.
At the heart of this isn’t just a policy debate-it’s a governance issue.
Boards set direction. They lay down the guardrails. Without policies like 5756, administrators are left to figure things out on their own-and that almost never goes the way the community expects.
🔒 What Happens When a Policy Gets Yanked?
Policies aren’t window dressing-they’re the rules of the road.
When a policy disappears, you don’t get “less controversy.” You get:
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Decisions Made Without Oversight
Administrators and staff end up interpreting state and federal guidelines however they see fit-and results vary wildly. -
Zero Accountability
With no clear policy, decisions shift based on whoever’s making them-not based on what the community elected the board to uphold. -
A Whole Lot of Unintended Consequences
What you think will “simplify things” actually ends up creating chaos-with administrators setting de facto policy behind closed doors.
🚫 The Cowardice of Donna Carey and Tony Alfano
Back in 2023, when Policy 5756 first landed on the table, Donna Carey and Tony Alfano made its abolition their “hill to die on.”
But here’s the thing: they had no alternative. No smart plan. No tweaks.
They were too afraid to even say the word “transgender” - let alone lead a real policy discussion.
Instead of rolling up their sleeves and fixing it, they took the easy way out: try to wipe it out completely and hope no one noticed the leadership void they left behind.
Spoiler: we noticed.
Their motion to abolish the policy failed-and because they refused to support reasonable modifications, they left the district stuck with the original version.
No progress. No leadership. Just more confusion for staff and parents.
📑 What Was In the Revised Policy They Rejected?
The proposed 2023 revision wasn’t radical. It was a smart, reasonable compromise that:
- Removed ideological language to keep the focus on legal compliance.
- Clarified adherence to state and federal law-no political overreach.
- Balanced parental concerns with student privacy protections.
- Gave staff clear, actionable guidelines instead of leaving everything to chance.
And yet… Carey and Alfano shot it down.
For a full comparison of the original vs. the revision, check it out here.
🗳️ Want Real Change? Contact Your Legislators
If you think Policy 5756 needs serious reform-the real action happens at the state level.
State and federal laws shape what boards can-and can’t-do.
If you want lasting change:
Push for the legal changes that boards can then properly build policies around.
🔨 Modify, Don’t Abandon: The Conservative Approach to Governance
Responsible governance isn’t about avoiding hard conversations. It’s about setting clear, thoughtful direction.
Instead of abolishing policies altogether, smart boards modify them to:
- Create clear guidelines that prevent overreach
- Protect all students’ rights (religious, cultural, and LGBTQ+)
- Maintain transparency and board oversight over school decisions
Good policy is how boards govern-not how they dodge.
📄 Policy: The Real Tool of Governance
The Board’s job is governance-not micromanaging and not walking away from tough issues.
When boards scrap policies without offering replacements, they hand power to administrators.
And once decisions move behind closed doors, community voice and board oversight are gone.
Regardless of where you stand on Policy 5756-the bigger question is this:
Should Hardyston’s schools be guided by elected representatives or by unelected administrators making it up as they go?
Because when a policy is ripped away without a plan? It’s not leadership-it’s surrender.
🔶 Conclusion: Lead, Don’t Walk Away
The fight over Policy 5756 isn’t just about one issue.
It’s about whether Hardyston schools are led by clear, accountable governance-or by chaos.
Policies like 5756 exist to provide clarity, consistency, and accountability.
By refusing to lead-by dodging hard conversations and ditching policies instead of fixing them-Donna Carey and Tony Alfano showed exactly what kind of leaders they are.
Hardyston deserves better.