Are you a primary school governor? A very simple question...

[Wigeon]

...does the school provide tea and coffee for free at governor meetings (full meetings and sub-committees)?

[SandStorm]

I'm no longer a governor but have, at various times, been to meetings where tea and coffee were freely available to all but no biscuits. I've also been to meetings where a couple of governors brought a bottle of wine and nibbles to share and I have to say these were probably the most productive meetings I've ever been to (and no, nobody drinks to the point where they can't make a constructive decision).

[Feenie]

I didn't say £6.60 was too much, not for tea and coffee. But it does make a difference, yes.

[Feenie]

I would say mine do too - but I would rather we spent the money on the children than my supper. That's over the top, imo.

[Feenie]

You can have a penguin biscuit

No pizza!

[admission]

There is something peculiarly british that we are talking about the group of 10 to 20 people who are volunteering to act in a professional capacity to strategically manage schools with significant budgets (my secondary school, is just over £8M) and it is being questioned whether it is right that they can have a cup of tea or coffee when they have a meeting.
Of course it is right that they should. And biscuits, sandwiches and cakes.

[BonfireOfKleenex]

I think just over 50p a month expenses for an entire team of people who do a professional job for free is a bit of a bargain actually.

[Hedgepig]

I'm a governor and we have a rota to bring in drinks and nibbles for for the full governing body meetings . We don't bother with the sub committees.

[emma123456]

My husbands a governor.. they get nothing... not even a drink of water. The meetings usuaklly involve him getting to school straight from work so he hasnt had time for tea. A cuppa and a biscuit would be appreciated!

[Fairyliz]

I work in a primary school where we have a staff kitty for tea and coffee. All Govenors, visitors etc are made a drink out of the staff supply which does cause problems.
I asked the Head if we could buy a visitors supply, he said no.

[BonfireOfKleenex]

Quibbling over buying a few tea bags out of the school budget is a false economy, imo. Goodwill and cheerful dedication has a financial value too.

[lougle]

What are you all doing having meetings that go on until 10pm??

I'm a Governor at a Special School and our meetings start at 7pm, finished by 8.30.

[rabbitstew]

Not to offer tea, coffee, water and biscuits is churlish in the extreme. I offer that much to anyone who comes to do work on my house, despite the fact I'm already paying them for the job. With that sort of attitude, the school would deserve governors to put an item entitled "Governors' Allowances Policy" on the next agenda, where they could set out clearly their entitlement to claim back travel costs, photocopying and printing costs, childcare costs, etc, from the school. The goodwill generated from something as simple as providing free tea, coffee and biscuits to hungry, thirsty people can lead to the profitable result of the same people being far less inclined to claim back out of pocket expenses.

[PurpleBlossom]

I have nothing of particular relevance to add to this thread but as a Teacher it made me LOL.

The staffroom politics involved in biscuits is unbelievable! People at our school haven't spoken in years over various biscuit related incidents.

[Feenie]

Agreed, rabbitstew - now, where do you stand on pizza and sandwiches?

[Feenie]

Lougle, our meetings start at 7 and often end at 10 because our Chair is ridiculous and adds AOB niggles from individual parents which should never be discussed at full governors - all without informing the Head or anyone else beforehand. Drives everyone nuts.

[lougle]

Poor you! Our AOB is usually a sign to get your keys! What are parents doing sharing niggles with the GB? Our role is strategic, not operational

[rabbitstew]

I don't think pizza and sandwiches are necessary! That would go the other way and make some governors feel guilty about the expense! Particularly if they didn't like the sandwich fillings .

[messybedhead]

I'm hoping that it is just in schools that this stingy attitude is found.

I'm a teacher and I cringe every time the Deputy Head shakes the tea and coffee kitty box as soon as a visitor or supply teacher walks through the door.

I bring in my own tea bags because I begrudge being accused (collectively with the rest of the staff) of not contributing enough to the kitty. This makes him even more annoyed!

Of course the school should provide refreshments to the governors!!

[rabbitstew]

Biscuits aren't really necessary, either, really, but at least they last a while, so aren't "wasted" like more perishable food if they are offered but not taken, and are an easy way to make people feel a little bit valued. It doesn't actually take very much to make people who are volunteers feel appreciated, because they are already eager to please, but you don't want to lose the sense of goodwill and wanting to be helpful. You certainly don't want to throw the goodwill back in peoples' faces by drinking coffee in front of them without offering them a cup, too - that's appallingly rude behaviour.

[MackerelOfFact]

I think that's extremely rude. You can't expect people to volunteer their time and then begrudge them a refreshment because it will cost pence out of the budget. That's basically saying that the services of the governors is worth less than a tenner a year to the school, which is frankly insulting when people are giving up their evenings to attend meetings in addition to their own jobs and lives.

[rabbitstew]

I find being a governor very expensive: I have to donate a prize to the governors' raffle every Christmas and summer and stand on the stall for the duration; I use my own money towards thank you gifts to departing head teachers and governors; I use reams of my own paper and printer ink; I never ask for transport or parking costs; my dh's entire work schedule is based around ensuring I am free for governor meetings without having to pay babysitters (which has actually limited my ability to have a social life with my dh...). It is not my only voluntary role, but it is definitely the most expensive one (and by far the most time consuming while looking for a new headteacher). On top of that, of course, I am expected to contribute to the school as a parent. If I weren't offered tea and coffee at meetings, I would be really peed off.

[pooka]

Biscuits on plate oink middle of table. Never eaten. Assume they are then carefully packed away for another time. :)

If we want tea or coffee we can make ourselves. I tend not to. Meeting is in staff room so would rather not deplete staff tea and coffee supplies. Can help selves to water too. No one serving us - appropriate IMO. Meeting only 2hrs max. Not too ling to survive.