The Hardyston Board of Education is once again at the center of controversy as discussions around Policy 0174 resurface. Last month, Board Member Donna Carey misled fellow members regarding the policy’s implications, sparking heated debate and public frustration. Now, rather than addressing the concerns raised, the Board’s leadership is doubling down-this time, extending the policy further to include the Vice President.
While the changes to the policy itself are not the issue, the lack of full board oversight over legal expenditures remains a glaring problem.
How Much Has This Cost the District?
When discussing unchecked legal spending, it’s crucial to look at the actual costs.
💰 Legal billings associated with Donna Carey’s actions have totaled over $20,000.
One of the most egregious examples? Her personal ethics defense, which cost $9,697.03 in legal fees-nearly triple the amount of the first complaint she filed against another board member. How guilty was she that it took three times the effort to defend her actions?
What’s worse?
- After incurring these legal expenses, she filed ethics complaints against two other board members.
- One complaint was dismissed outright.
- The other, filed only after failing in her first attempt, is still being heard by the state, continuing to consume legal resources.
Carey’s pattern of weaponizing legal action for personal and political battles has not only created division on the board but has also led to unnecessary legal spending that does nothing to benefit Hardyston students.
What is Policy 0174?
Policy 0174 was originally limited to granting legal consultation authority to the Superintendent and Business Administrator. However, in last month’s first reading, the Board President was added to the policy.
Now, in this latest revision, the policy has been expanded even further to include the Vice President.
In theory, this may seem like a practical administrative adjustment, but in practice, it further reduces checks and balances on how taxpayer money is spent on legal matters.
The Real Issue: Lack of Transparency in Legal Spending
The root of the controversy lies in the fact that legal expenditures by board leadership are not subject to full board oversight. This means that:
- Legal consultations and expenses can be incurred without broader discussion or approval.
- Other board members are often left unaware of when legal services are used, how frequently, or for what purpose.
- There is no clear mechanism ensuring that leadership’s legal expenditures align with the board’s collective priorities and fiduciary responsibilities.
At a time when fiscal responsibility is paramount, this unchecked authority is cause for concern.
Donna Carey’s Pattern of Misleading the Board
During last month’s discussions, Donna Carey assured the board that Policy 0174 would not result in excessive or hidden legal costs-a statement that has since been proven false.
Rather than re-evaluating the policy’s transparency issues, leadership has doubled down by adding the Vice President to the policy’s scope.
This raises further questions:
🔹 Why wasn’t full board oversight added to the policy instead?
🔹 Who benefits from limiting access to information on legal spending?
🔹 How can taxpayers be sure their money is being spent responsibly?
How Long Before Carey Finds an Issue With This News Organization?
If there’s one thing Donna Carey has proven, it’s that she’s sensitive to criticism.
She has already:
- Allowed thousands of dollars in legal fees to be billed due to her actions.
- Used the legal system against fellow board members who didn’t align with her views.
How long before she finds an issue with this publication?
Given her history of retaliatory complaints, it wouldn’t be surprising if Carey turns her attention next to silencing the very people exposing the truth about her leadership.
The Community Deserves Accountability
Hardyston residents deserve transparency in how board leadership handles public funds.
Rather than simply expanding the number of people with unchecked authority, the Board should be implementing policies that increase financial transparency and accountability.
What Can Be Done?
If you share concerns about how board leadership is managing legal expenditures, here’s what you can do:
✅ Attend the next Board of Education meeting and demand answers.
✅ Ask for a full financial disclosure of all legal expenses incurred under this policy.
✅ Push for policy revisions that require full board approval for legal expenditures over a certain threshold.
✅ Hold Board Members accountable in the next election.
Decisions affecting the district should be made with full transparency and collective oversight, not behind closed doors by a select few.
📢 Do you think the Board should have full oversight on legal expenditures? Share your thoughts at the next Board of Education meeting and let your voice be heard!