I spent a very interesting day with the Cobb County School Board on Friday. The board attended a "retreat" conducted by Nancy Broner, a Governance Solutions Trainer with the Center for Reform of School Systems, and a few of us daring citizens joined them to see what we could learn.

Don't get the wrong impression; it wasn't as if the board invited us to tag along and sit in on the proceedings. In fact, no one was invited; originally, there were no plans to allow the press or public to attend at all. It was only after public pressure was brought to bear that Board Chairwoman Lynnda Crowder-Eagle acquiesced and the retreat was held at the Cobb Chamber of Commerce instead of Amicalola Falls, where they would be virtually unreachable.

Ostensibly, the purpose of the retreat was to improve communication both internally and externally - a noble cause, to be sure. As the popular adage goes, the first step in solving a problem is admitting that you have one, even if they have been down this road a time or two before.

In practice, however two realities shaped the day: the first is that the school board is so ineffectual and dysfunctional that the citizens of Cobb County have to pay a consultant thousands of dollars to instruct them on how to get along well enough to do the people's business. Indeed, there is such a lack of respect for each other and such a wide-ranging level of maturity that Ms. Broner was compelled to propose that the board set rules of engagement and offered tips on how to inspire respect.

The other reality that had to be faced - news not even to Ms. Broner - is that the CCSD has a serious problem following policies. For example, most people do not know that the board permits the superintendent to self-evaluate, with bonuses and pay raises doled out based on who knows what. Cobb County policy states that the board must evaluate the superintendent annually and share the results in executive session. Currently, that is not the case.

Unfortunately, the Center for Reform of School Systems subscribes to the same top-down governance theories as the infamous John Carver, whom we also paid thousands of dollars to tell us that the board's job is to make the superintendent happy. Ms. Broner went so far as to suggest that the board not burden the superintendent's office with too many requests for information. Indeed, a portion of Friday's time was spent discussing these very things, perpetuating the illusion that the superintendent is in charge.

But, I still believe that everyone learned something on Friday. For example, we learned that, according to Ms. Broner, the public owns public schools - that the board and the superintendent are merely trustees. Who knew? With the reluctance the CCSD has to open communications and their propensity for secrecy - even among the members themselves - one could be forgiven for thinking that the board believes the public has no business poking around in their affairs.

To make her point, Ms. Broner stressed that board members should not meet outside of the board room to discuss issues, not even as few as two members. Clearly, Ms. Broner has done her homework on the Cobb County School District.

She also stated that there should never be any surprises during board meetings, (clearly referring to Post 7 Rep. Bartlett's disclosure of the possibility of coercion during the balanced calendar debate). Her advice was for board members to communicate issues via e-mail prior to airing them in open meetings. This notion drew an audible gasp from the few of us seated in the peanut gallery; it is a widely known practice of this board to avoid communicating via e-mail because it is discoverable via Open Records requests. Open communications, indeed; the concept seems foreign to this board.

Ms. Broner also spent time helping the board understand what the goals of a school board should be, since most of our members seem to be unclear.

For example, the current board chair portrayed her role as being the one in charge; the boss. In fact, if Cobb policy is followed, the chair's role is to facilitate meetings, sign official paperwork and in conjunction with the superintendent, set the agenda. That is it - end of story. But, given our most recent board chairs as examples, who can blame her for being confused.

Governance and policy making, focusing on kids, and treating each other with respect were revealed as the true and appropriate roles of the board. But, these can only be implemented when there is parliamentary protocol and the superintendent is trusted.

All told, I believe Ms. Broner gave the board a few pieces of good advice. What remains to be seen is whether anyone will heed this advice.

Kathleen Angelucci is a Kell High School mother and school district watchdog in east Cobb.