At the Tuesday, December 9, 2025 Hardyston Board of Education meeting, Board President Donna Carey delivered a farewell speech honoring outgoing board members Tony Alfano and Jean Barrett, both of whom are leaving the Board at the end of their terms.
What the public heard Tuesday night was a send-off packed with applause lines and broad claims of accomplishment - while many residents, quietly and not-so-quietly, seemed mostly grateful to turn the page.
The send-off speech
Carey described Barrett as a leader on “parents’ rights,” “honest and open communication,” and keeping curriculum “focused on what was most important” for Hardyston families. She credited Barrett with helping deliver changes such as:
- posting curriculum materials online
- notifying families ahead of time and allowing opt-outs
- creating “fair surveys” so “everyone” could have a voice
- removing or changing policies that “went against our values”
Carey then praised Alfano as “fierce,” “unapologetic,” and vigilant on finances - “guarding every single dollar like it belonged to your own family” - and claimed he pursued results tied to issues like chronic absenteeism and program improvements.
It was an energetic tribute.
It was also remarkably short on specifics.
Big claims, small receipts
The central problem with farewell speeches like this isn’t that they’re positive - it’s that they often substitute emotion for evidence.
If the accomplishments are real, they should be easy to point to in measurable, public-facing outcomes:
- What academic indicators moved because of these policy shifts?
- What absenteeism metrics changed because of Board action (not administrative enforcement)?
- What spending cuts were implemented, and what did they save?
- What programs were expanded, and what was the documented impact?
Instead, the speech offered a familiar style of résumé-building: sweeping statements, flattering adjectives, and zero numbers.
“Transparency” as a talking point
Carey highlighted curriculum visibility and parent notifications as major wins.
But residents know that “transparency” can mean two very different things:
- making information easier to access, and
- manufacturing controversy to keep people angry
The last three years were often less about access to information - and more about using information as fuel.
Fiscal responsibility isn’t a vibe
Alfano was praised for fiscal discipline. Yet “fiscal responsibility” isn’t measured by intensity, volume, or how often someone says the words “taxpayers.”
It’s measured by:
- understanding the budget
- planning for future obligations
- avoiding structural gaps
- making decisions that don’t dump liabilities onto the next board
A finance narrative built on speeches instead of planning is not fiscal responsibility - it’s branding.
Governance by performance
The most telling part of the evening wasn’t the praise.
It was that the most meaningful moments had nothing to do with outgoing board members at all:
- recognizing student standouts
- celebrating staff contributions
- straightforward updates from administration
- tangible facility improvements already in motion
The district’s progress is driven primarily by educators, administrators, and staff doing daily work - not by board members taking victory laps.
The public reaction: moving on
Some residents will miss Alfano and Barrett. Many will not.
What was obvious Tuesday night - even in a room without a crowd - is that a significant portion of the community is ready to move forward without:
- performative politics at the dais
- policy churn sold as “values”
- constant conflict masquerading as leadership
The Board will continue. The schools will continue. The community will continue.
And now Hardyston gets the rarest thing in local governance:
a chance to lower the volume and raise the standard.
Closing
Carey ended her remarks with holiday wishes and thanks to staff and families.
The public’s message - spoken or unspoken - was simpler:
Thank you for serving. Thank you for deciding not to run again. And good luck on your next chapter.
Especially the part where you’re not voting on our schools anymore.