Double Standards and Hidden Agendas: Hardyston's Transparency Problem
In public service, transparency isn’t a favor-it’s an obligation. The community deserves to know how decisions are made and why. It’s basic. It’s non-negotiable.
But under Board President Donna Carey, transparency seems to come with fine print: only when it benefits her.
Let’s take a closer look at what real transparency should look like-and how Donna Carey keeps falling short.
🔍 A Model for How Transparency Should Work
Recently, we saw a great example of how board communication should be handled.
A board member made a legal request. At first, the Board Secretary thought it was a private matter. But when the board member persisted, the request was kicked up to the school attorney.
Here’s what happened next:
The right steps were taken:
- All board members were notified about the request and the attorney’s response.
- The full legal opinion was shared openly with the entire board.
- Everyone got a formal explanation, so nobody was left in the dark.
That’s transparency: equal access to information, no special treatment, no secrets.
🟥 Donna Carey’s Version of Transparency: Selective and Self-Serving
Now, contrast that with Carey’s track record.
- Secret legal consultations that the full board wasn’t informed about
- Decisions made behind closed doors, with “updates” only after the fact
- Rejected proposals for greater transparency, especially when they would’ve made her more accountable
Carey’s pattern couldn’t be clearer:
- Modify policies to consolidate power
- Share info when it benefits her-hide it when it doesn’t
- Accuse others of creating “drama”-while fueling division through secrecy
Call it what it is: an abuse of power, not leadership.
🔹 The Basics of Real Transparency
If you’re serious about good governance, you follow a few simple rules:
- All legal requests should be logged and shared immediately.
- All legal opinions belong to the full board, not a select few.
- No individual board member-president or not-should use attorneys for personal or political gain.
- When someone refuses transparency, that’s a red flag-not business as usual.
🔶 Conclusion: Carey’s Double Standard Hurts Everyone
Transparency isn’t optional-it’s the backbone of trust.
But under Donna Carey’s leadership, it’s been weaponized-something used when it’s convenient and tossed aside when it’s not.
The sad part? The Hardyston community deserves better. Open conversations. Honest leadership. Decisions made with the community-not hidden from it.
We’ve already seen how transparency should work.
The real question is: Will Donna Carey ever follow it-or keep hiding behind closed doors?