In January of this year, following the first meeting of the newly seated Cobb County school board, this columnist, ever the optimist, enthusiastically announced that board Chairman Dr. John Abraham was going to see to it that business was conducted properly, in the open and on the up and up, from that point forward.

At the time, several people warned me that I was wearing rose colored glasses. Well, in two short months, their pronouncements proved true and I was forced to admit, reluctantly, to living on a diet of crow.

This time I will tread a little softer, when I say that the board appeared, at its Aug. 12 work session, to take a few positive steps to deal openly, hopefully keeping the campaign promises that were partially responsible for their individual elections. I must express disappointment that they had to vote on whether, or not, to honor their campaign promises and that it took over seven months to get around to it.

Of course, the resident cheerleader for Superintendent Fred Sanderson, board member Holli Cash, could not let the changes go through as Board Attorney Glenn Brock proposed them. She insisted on retaining a "scheduled" executive session. whether there is any need for one or not.

It appears Cash cannot let go of the opportunity to operate in secret.

As with any promises, commitments, pledges, etc., the "proof of the pudding is in the eating." It remains to be seen how much credence the members of the board give to the pledges of transparency on which they voted, almost unanimously.

However, the issue which was not addressed, and which occupies a place of equal importance, is the matter of transparency between Sanderson and the board. It appears that each and every month, sometimes more often, the board discovers another action taken by Sanderson, without approval or knowledge of the board.

When such breaches are uncovered, the lack of strong leadership on the board produces nothing more serious than an admonition to Sanderson to "not do it again." He promises to obey, while probably thinking, "Fools, I already did it. I don't have to do THAT again. I can do something else."

Until the board finds the integrity and strength to shut him down, he will continue to flaunt policy and rules in their faces and laugh at them behind their backs.

A problem of equal importance, which needs to be addressed by the voters, is the matter of cohesiveness on the board. From an observer's viewpoint, it would appear that the board is aligned five against two on many major issues.

Each time member Alison Bartlett brings up an idea, or an objection to an action, Mrs. Cash, members David Banks or Lynda Crowder-Eagle, or a combination of two or more, try to counter whatever she has said. There appears to be a concentrated effort to shut her out.

The three operate almost like a professional wrestling "tag team."

One expects there to be differing opinions on a wide range of issues, but the impression that is being created by the aforementioned action is that Bartlett is wrong in everything she says. Much the same is true of whatever Morgan says. The animosity is obvious to even the most casual observer.

It would appear that the other members of the board are making a concerted effort to neutralize the work of both Morgan and Bartlett. In their efforts, it also appears that Banks and Cash are engaged in an ongoing contest to determine which can talk the most and the longest without saying anything of substance.

Cash was ahead, at least by my scoring, until Banks resurrected his ill-advised oratory about a new administrative office for the district.

It is my sincere hope, and one which is, I trust, shared by most Cobb taxpayers, that the action taken last Wednesday will result in an open and transparent method of operation, and that the executive session privilege (never a requirement) will be utilized only for those issues which it was originally intended to cover.

I would implore all the members of the board to move in that direction. I have put my neck on the line for you. Please don't disappoint me. With my brand new upper dentures, I am having a tough time chewing even marshmallows.

To be forced to revert to a diet of "crow" would be most painful.

Pete Borden is a mason and playwright in east Cobb.