to think that school governor's meetings should be held in the evenings?

[philmassive]

I have recently become a school parent governor. Prior to my becoming one all the governor's meetings were held at 7pm. Recently they have started to schedule them in at 4.45 in the afternoon.

I appreciate that this must make life much easier for the staff who are part of the governing body as they are already on the premises but it is impossible for me and at least one other parent governor who (as the name suggests!) have children to look after. My OH is not home from work at that time and it would mean that I have to call in favours from friends and family for child care.

Am I being unreasonable to think they should consider this aspect when scheduling meetings? Or do I put up and shut up? Your thoughts and info about what other schools do would be welcome.

How often are the meetings and could they vary the times of the meetings throughout the year so you have enough notice?

i used to be a clerk to a variety of school GB's and 9/10 times they started at 6pm. Must just have been the done thing in our area. surely time and date of next meeting shuld be agreed at the previous meetings, but the GB members?

Our governors' meetings are in the evening - but you'll never please everyone. I always found they cut right across teatime and bedtime and DH was never home in time so I missed more than I attended.

Now the children are older I can take them with me and they sit in the staff room or library so evenings suit me again.

YNBU in asking they consider the governors' childcare issues but don't be disappointed if it doesn't get changed.

but by the GB members... ooops!

The meetings are every half term but my ds was ill when the last one took place so I missed it. There is nothing in the minutes of that meeting to suggest that it was agreed to change the times.

I'd be quite interested in being a parent governor at the school, but won't because I can't do the evening meetings.
Maybe they should be mixing them about a bit so there's some at different times.

I'd love to be one but at our school they meet in the evenings, when I'm at work.

We alternate ours between 4pm and 7.30pm starts through the year, to be honest both of those times can create child-minding issues.

I clerk 6 schools, the meeting times vary. You are a member, so you have a right to bring up the meeting times and ask for them to be reconsidered. Schools need to retain governors, not lose them because they can't get to meetings. Alternating the times is normally a good option.
(I won't take on a school if their meetings start later than 6.30 pm, just haven't got the energy).

I don't think you can win when it comes to scheduling school meetings.

Bitter, moi?

Ours are at 7pm which works fine for me. I would find it impossible if they wee at 4.45pm.

Ours are at 2pm on a Tuesday, when I am usually at home.

Which suits me just fine..

So that's ok then. Bugger everyone else...

Though it is impossible to schedule these things to suit everybody, I think. Our school is so small, and has so few governors, that accomodations are comparatively easy. Even here though, there are sometimes difficulties..

I think you have to 'suck it up'

(I think that's the phrase Young Persons use nowadays)

Ours are at 4 and staggers on until 6ish it's not often, I sort out someone to take ds. Simple.

ours are at 4.30 pm - agree with others that say early or late childcare issues are pretty much expected. We can claim expenses for childcare in order to attend - I don't have to mind you but is this an option for you OP?

/hijack - what does it involve being a governor? Dh works ful time but wants to apply but is he going to need to take leave to attend etc? Is it better if the SAH parent applies instead?
Thanks! Sorry for hijack!

Our committee meetings are at 8am and full governors at 7pm. We have dates a year in advance for scheduled meetings so people can generally arrange cover. Ad-hoc meetings are at the same times but usually less well attended.

Ours are at 5 and often finish at approx 8pm - if we started at 7pm it would be a late night. However there is only one main meeting a term so not the end of the world to manage. Sub commitee meetings are usually in the day so I dont always make all those.

PTA wise, its usually 3pm which excludes the majority of working mums from taking part.

It would certainly be an excellent way of filtering out single parents.

I think they should hold two.

One at 9 am, and one at 7pm.

Ours start at 4pm. My Ds sits and waits for me in the library.

Thanks everyone. I have a younger ds who might wreck the library so not an option for me! I think I'll go for the request to alternate times option. Thanks for your input.