The February 11th Board of Education meeting was anything but routine. While Board President Donna Carey has repeatedly claimed to stand for transparency, her actions tell a different story.
Heated Exchange Over Policy 0174
One of the night’s most intense moments came during a heated exchange between Donna Carey and Ronald Hoffman regarding Policy 0174, which governs who can contact the board attorney. The discussion took a sharp turn when Hoffman directly accused Carey of lying to the board, exposing contradictions in her statements:
Ronald Hoffman: “But you lied to the members.”
Donna Carey: “I did not lie.”
Hoffman: “You told us that you would not contact the attorney unless all members were notified.”
Donna Carey then overstepped her authority and attempted to prevent Board Member Ronald Hoffman from completing a statement on a motion that was before the board.
For a Board President who preaches transparency, this moment spoke volumes.
Who Does the Board Attorney Really Work For?
Carey insisted that she had the right to contact the board attorney without informing other members, despite previously stating she would notify them beforehand. The debate escalated as board members questioned:
🔹 Why was the attorney contacted without prior board approval?
🔹 Why was the attorney absent from the meeting, preventing public discussion?
🔹 Why did Carey change her stance from what she previously told board members?
A Board President should serve the entire board and the public, not unilaterally make decisions behind closed doors.
What’s More Important Than Transparency?
This isn’t the first time Carey’s actions have contradicted her words. Just last month, we questioned why she and Vice President Jean Barrett were glued to their phones during a public meeting instead of focusing on students. If you missed that, read our previous coverage here.
Between ignoring transparency promises, avoiding board discussion, and making unilateral decisions, one has to wonder-what’s more important to Donna Carey than accountability?
📢 What do you think? Should the Board President have unchecked access to legal counsel without informing the board? Submit a tip here.