My Principal Wants a Meeting

 

As with all FAQs, the opinions expressed are solely those of the author.  You should always exercise your best judgment when confronted with a potentially contentious situation.  Resources available for advice include UTLA staff, committee officers, and your local Chapter Chair.

 

Principals and other administrators will tell a teacher they want to have a meeting after class?  How should you respond?

 

If you suspect that nothing is amiss, you may want to agree to meet.  However, you have a contractual right to UTLA representation if you believe the meeting may be disciplinary in nature.  If you suspect such, ask if the meeting is potentially disciplinary in nature.  Now, many administrators will say no, then when the door is closed and there are no witnesses, the meeting takes a very ugly turn.  Thus, even if the administrator states that it is not, you can still believe that it may be.  If you believe it may be disciplinary, you have a right to UTLA representation present during the meeting.  That means the meeting must be scheduled during a time that your representative is available.  You choose your representation: it may be UTLA staff, your Chapter Chair, a committee officer, or anyone you want to accompany you.

 

Note that the administrator may direct you to attend, maybe immediately, even without representation.  If directed, attend.  To refuse would be an act of insubordination.  However, while the administrator can direct you to attend, he can’t require that you enter into discussion or respond to any questions.  If so directed, attend, don’t say anything that could be used against you (that may mean don’t say anything at all), then contact UTLA or a committee officer immediately after the meeting is over.  Directing you to attend without representation is a clear violation of the contract.

 

As to when you must attend, you are only under the administrator’s directives during your regularly scheduled hours.  Any time off the clock is your time, not theirs (See the FAQ “Can My Principal Call Mandatory Meetings?”).  However, administrators sometimes become angry; it may not be the best time to push your legal and contractual rights to the limit.  As with all situations, use good judgment.  If possible, seek the advice of your Chapter Chair or another colleague.

 

In certain circumstances (the lemon administrators), we have advised teachers to never attend any meeting without witnesses.  You may have one of these administrators.  If so, again use good judgment, but recognize that even the worst administrators are much more circumspect when a witness is present during a meeting.  If at all possible, have a witness present.  If that is not allowed, attend, keep you mouth shut, take notes both during and after the meeting, and contact a responsible party for assistance after it’s over.