In moving forward this week with revisions to its ethics policy, the Auburn school board has lost sight of its primary mission and is instead focusing on amendments to its bylaws, one of which falls so far outside the scope of its authority that it would violate the constitutional rights of its members.

A revised ethics policy would make it a violation for a board member to call a reporter. One would still be allowed to answer questions, if asked, but to “initiate” contact with the media would be out of bounds.

The idea that an elected official would need permission to contact the media is disturbing to say the least, and to establish a policy that's clearly aimed at silencing board member Joe Leogrande's sometimes dissenting opinion - and the healthy debate that often follows - goes against everything a representative democracy stands for.

In addition, the policy could easily be taken advantage of by a corrupt board or school administration. We're not saying there's any corruption here, but this board is working to set up a system that could foster it.

As part of the school board election process, we've privately asked each member of this board whether they would have the guts to speak out if they became aware of a major rules violation within their ranks, and each of them has said that they would. But now each member, with the exception of Leogrande, has voted in favor of secrecy over openness.

There are certainly confidential matters discussed during executive sessions at board meetings, and we don't want anyone divulging this information, but individual board members have the right to talk to the press, and thus the public, about anything else they believe is important for people to know.

If members aren't supposed to contact the media, does that mean they can't inform people about an upcoming event, an honor achieved by a student, or even that they're running for re-election - without running it by the board spokesperson?

Instead of barring board members from contacting the media, a better policy would be to simply have members be clear that they are speaking on behalf of themselves, not the entire board.

It's board members who keep secrets who violate the public's trust, not the ones who speak out when they believe things are moving in the wrong direction.