What’s worse than a public body denying access to an investigator’s report that was paid for with taxpayer money?

Hiring a lawyer to fight the release of that investigator’s report by spending even more of the taxpayers’ money.

That’s the latest wrinkle in the running soap opera touched off by former Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District Superintendent Trevor Evel, who resigned last month after an audit revealed the questionable use of the school district’s credit card at out-of-town training conferences.

In recent weeks, the school board has come under fire for refusing to release the report — compiled by Atty. Dean Eggert of Wadleigh, Starr and Peters of Manchester — then sealing the minutes of the April 24 non-public session where it was discussed. In both cases, the board voted to seal the documents for 50 years.

Those ill-advised actions have prompted a lawsuit from the New Hampshire Union Leader, which rightly argues the report is not protected under any of the exemptions listed in the state’s Right to Know Law.

The Telegraph also has filed a right-to-know request with the school board for all records pertaining to Ebel’s resignation, including copies of Eggert’s investigative report, the minutes of four non-public sessions and Ebel’s resignation letter.

For its part, the school board maintains that sealing the report is covered by a provision of the law that allows for non-public sessions if discussion in public would “affect adversely the reputation of any person.”

As such, the board has hired an outside attorney to fight all attempts to make the report public. In fact, school board chairman Geoffrey Brock acknowledged at a recent meeting that the district has received “about 15” requests for that information under the state’s open government law.

That’s the same meeting that attracted a half-dozen residents who were openly critical of the school board’s handling of the Ebel affair.

“You said you were worried about somebody’s reputation,” said Walter Holland, school district moderator. “Worry about yours.”

Kudos to Mr. Holland for making our point. For with each passing day that the board refuses to release the publicly funded report, it just feeds the perception — rightly or wrongly — that the board has more to hide here than Ebel’s already tarnished reputation.

And while that might not be fair, it is precisely what happens when an elected body adopts a “trust the people you’ve elected” attitude and proceeds to block the release of information pertaining to the actions of a public employee.

As we’ve stated several times in the past few weeks, if members really want to build trust with the people who put them in office, then they should operate in an open and transparent manner. Sealing documents — for 50 years, no less — is neither open nor transparent.

To be fair, the board has taken some positive steps. Members intend to address travel guidelines at their next meeting, and Brian Bagley, the high school principal serving as acting superintendent, has scheduled “Coffee with the Superintendent” sessions for three Friday mornings to “open the lines of communication” with members of the two communities.

That’s all well and good. But if school officials are really interested in “opening the lines of communication,” they will unseal the report immediately and make it available to the people who paid for it in the first place.

Guest editorial from the Nashua Telegraph.