Privilege Over Policy? Carey and Barrett's Friend Reportedly Receives Quiet Residency Exception

Privilege over policy? This is why people are asking questions

Hardyston Board of Education members Donna Carey and Jean Barrett are facing heat after reports suggested a friend may have gotten special treatment on a residency issue.

No public vote. No tuition arrangement. No clear explanation.

If that’s accurate, residents have every right to ask what’s going on.

Behind Closed Doors

According to people familiar with the matter, a recent executive session included discussion of a non-resident student. The parent was reportedly present during that closed-door meeting.

Executive sessions are confidential, but they’re usually limited to board members and counsel unless the board formally allows otherwise.

After that session, there was no public action, no vote, and no announced tuition agreement. But the student appears to remain enrolled in Hardyston schools despite reports the family no longer lives in district.

A Question of Access and Influence

This parent has also been seen at multiple board meetings and, notably, was observed at the same table as Carey and Barrett during a local political party meeting.

Friendships happen in small towns. That’s normal. But when a decision appears to benefit those same relationships, people start wondering whether rules are being applied equally.

So the obvious question is: coincidence, or favoritism?

No Vote. No Policy Exception. No Transparency.

Unlike other families who have faced residency enforcement and tuition obligations after moving out of district, there has been no public acknowledgment of an exception here.

No public policy change. No public vote authorizing a special arrangement.

These circumstances raise serious concerns about transparency, consistency, and fairness.

Time for Answers

To be clear: no one is making a legal accusation here. But when public officials appear to help friends behind closed doors without public disclosure, trust takes a hit.

Residents deserve a clear and consistent application of policy, not one that seems to hinge on personal relationships.

This situation may not just be about one student. It’s about whether rules apply to everyone - or only to those without connections.

The views expressed in this article are based on publicly available information, personal observations, and credible reports. Questions raised here are matters of public concern, and the intent is to promote transparency and accountability in local government.