The state's Open Meetings Law is one of the most important safeguards the public has against abuse by elected officials.

Any time we hear about elected officials thwarting that law, intentionally or not, it's cause for concern.

The three members of the Auburn Enlarged City School District Board of Education's audit committee gathered last month for breakfast at the Auburn Denny's. The trio - Michael Stearns, Ginny Kent and Charles Cator - said they had no intention of discussing official business; it was just friends getting together for some conversation. But the discussion evolved into some talk of proper audit committee procedure.

When board member Joseph Leogrande learned of this, he was incensed. Leogrande had already expressed some misgivings about how this audit committee is functioning, and he was quite displeased to learn of this gathering.

Leogrande wants a public apology, or he may take the issue to a judge. That may seem like an overreaction, but it's vital that these board members understand and respect the open meetings law. They need to give notice of their audit committee meetings, and make sure the public can attend them.

Unfortunately, we're not encouraged by comments on this matter from Stearns. He views this as grandstanding by Leogrande, and he views that gathering at Denny's as nothing more than a social gathering.

We're not saying elected officials can't get together in social situations, but every person who holds office should know what cannot be discussed in those settings.

If conversation drifts into public business, that's an official meeting. And because the public had not been given proper notice, that's also a violation of the open meetings law - case closed.

Now we don't want to see this issue get dragged into the courts, at least not yet. But we do want to see this school board take its obligation to conduct business openly more seriously.