Let’s set the stage: Tuesday night’s board meeting had just come off the high of celebrating the district’s #1 county ranking, staff applause still ringing in the air. Then came the public comment section - and with it, a tone shift so sharp you could almost hear the record scratch.
Jennifer Rosen, president of the Hardyston Education Association, stepped up to the mic with the kind of calm precision that usually precedes a reality check. And wow, did she deliver one.
So… Who Thought It Was Okay to Pull a Union Member Into Executive Session?
Apparently, Board President Donna Carey tried to pull a tenured union member into a closed-door executive session to speak negatively about their administrator during a contract renewal discussion. If your eyebrows just raised, good - that means you understand basic labor rights.
Rosen made it clear: the staff member had no prior knowledge of this, never agreed to speak, and was being falsely portrayed as involved in some sort of behind-the-scenes coordination. The union took this seriously - and they weren’t about to let it slide.
“Such behavior not only undermines the trust we place in this board, but also goes against the ethical standards expected of public officials,” Rosen said in a letter formally submitted during the meeting.
To be blunt, it’s the kind of thing that makes you wonder - does the board president actually understand how executive session works? Because inviting staff to potentially speak against a superior without legal grounds (and without union representation)? That’s not bold leadership. That’s a lawsuit waiting to happen.
What Followed Was… Awkward
Carey’s response? She tried to distance herself. Claimed the staff member’s name was brought up by the superintendent - not her. There was some back-and-forth. Some deflection. It didn’t inspire confidence.
And here’s the thing: this could’ve been avoided entirely if board leadership simply followed basic procedure. No drama. No fallout. No public embarrassment.
But instead, we got a teachable moment - delivered not by a board member, but by the president of the teachers’ union, reminding everyone in the room that tenure, protocol, and labor rights actually mean something.
It’s not every meeting where someone has to publicly correct the board president on due process. Then again, these days… maybe it is.
Final Thought
Here’s hoping this served as a wake-up call. Because if you’re going to lead a district, you should probably learn the rules first - especially the ones that protect your staff.
Because next time? The stakes might be higher than just a scolding at the microphone.