On August 11, 2025, Dana Kalczuk emailed Superintendent Mike Ryder and the full Board of Education.
Her message demanded investigations into:
- A private meeting she claimed was not confidential.
- A school employee (by name) she accused of mishandling candidacy paperwork.
- A community-run news page that she labeled “fake” and defamatory.
- Her critics more broadly, suggesting information was being leaked to undermine her.
Kalczuk’s request went beyond normal campaign disagreements. She was explicitly asking the district to take action against staff and residents - without providing credible evidence.
Context Matters
This demand came after her residency was formally challenged and after the Sussex County Clerk had accepted her candidacy based on thin “proof” - essentially a few affidavits from her mother and a letter from the school.
When that fell short of resolving public doubt, she shifted strategy. Instead of addressing the underlying concerns, she tried to coerce the district into investigating an employee and her family.
🕵️ Transparency vs. Pressure
Kalczuk portrays herself as a candidate for fairness and accountability. Yet the record shows her using speculation to pressure the district into targeting individuals she viewed as obstacles to her candidacy.
That is not transparency. That is intimidation.
Transparency means releasing the documents - which is why these OPRA emails are now public. Anyone can read them and judge for themselves.
📂 Read the Records
Here are the emails obtained through OPRA, including Kalczuk’s demands to the superintendent and the board:
Why It Matters
Leadership is revealed in moments of pressure. When faced with residency questions, Kalczuk did not simply clarify with clear records. Instead, she demanded investigations into staff and private citizens.
The voters of Hardyston must decide: Is that the kind of leadership our schools need?
Transparency exposes the record. Read it, and decide for yourself.