Documented Board Votes Contrast With 'I Don't Remember' Claim
At the January 6, 2026 Hardyston Board of Education meeting, Donna Carey said she did not recall approving FCS staffing changes. Official minutes document repeated recorded votes over multiple years.
At the January 6, 2026 Board of Education meeting, Donna Carey said:
“I’m just questioning about even like that program, how it was dissolved and when it was dissolved. I don’t remember. I’ve been on this board for a long time. I don’t remember actually approving um that event that took place. And that’s why”
Transcript timestamp reference: 00:46:01 --> 00:46:38
The narrow factual question isn’t whether someone supports or opposes Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) staffing decisions.
The question is simpler: did those decisions come before the board for formal action?
The official minutes show they did - repeatedly - and in open session.
Board-Level Adoption Record
The FCS staffing chain was not an informal administrative adjustment. It appeared in personnel sections of public agendas and was adopted through recorded board votes.
Below is the documented sequence.
July 8, 2014 - Resignation
Personnel Action:
P-3 Motion to accept, with regret, the resignation letter from ..., Family & Consumer Sciences and SWEEP Teacher...
Source: Board Minutes - July 8, 2014
Carey Status: Absent from meeting
August 12, 2014 - Position Change + Appointment
Personnel Actions:
P-7 Motion to approve a change in the position control roster...from full-time.. to part-timeP-8 Motion to appoint ... as part time Family & Consumer Sciences Teacher...
Source: Board Minutes - August 12, 2014
Carey Status: Voted Yes.
June 13, 2017 - Resignation
Personnel Action:
P-32 Motion to accept, with regret, the letter of resignation from ...
Source: Board Minutes - June 13, 2017
Carey Status: Voted Yes.
July 11, 2017 - Appointment
Personnel Action:
P-9 Motion to approve ... as part time (FTE .58) Family Consumer Science teacher...
Source: Board Minutes - July 11, 2017
Carey Status: Voted Yes.
July 14, 2020 - Resignation + Contingent Language
Personnel Actions:
P-1 Motion to accept, with regret, the letter of resignation from ...P-9 Motion to approve the part-time position of interventionist teacher...Background:This position is contingent on not being able to rehire a FCS teacher.
Source: Board Minutes - July 14, 2020
Carey Status: Voted Yes.
The Record
Memories fade. Minutes don’t.
The public record documents a multi-year sequence of staffing actions that came before the board, including Carey, and were adopted through formal votes.
On the factual question of board approval, the record says yes.
When minutes show repeated “Yes” votes over multiple years, saying “I don’t remember” invites obvious scrutiny about preparedness and attentiveness.