Most important educational meeting for my child yet and boss just scheduled mandatory meeting!

[Anonymous]

How do I handle this? I am meeting with school superintendent, my child teacher, principal and special needs counselors to discuss his special needs and it has been on the calendar. My boss just sent out a meeting planner for same time and it's mandatory-her boss will be introduced at this meeting. how do I professionally handle this? I need and want to only be there for my child at this school meeting so how best can I communicate this to my boss?

[Anonymous]

I think you say what you just said here. Seems pretty clear that is important meeting for you to attend.

[Anonymous]

Change the school meeting. For future reference, always take off when you have an important school meeting. Don't risk that your calendar will stay clear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Change the school meeting. For future reference, always take off when you have an important school meeting. Don't risk that your calendar will stay clear.

Another special needs mom. She cannot change the school meeting. There are multiple teachers and administrators whose schedules had to be arranged and it's the end of the school year.

You simply and firmly tell your boss that you will have to miss that meeting, and you are sorry but as he knows you had scheduled this leave far in advance and it is a mandatory ADA and Family Friendly Leave Act protected event you cannot miss. You ask to be casually introduced to the big boss on another day.

If necessary you contact HR.

[Anonymous]

You tell your boss what you said here and go to the school. Even if the big boss is pissed, you doing a great job otherwise should calm him/her later. I say go to school. If your boss simply thinks you are attending a pta meeting and nothing more, you should share as much info as you are comfortable and go.

Otoh, I think this whole business of don't mention family unless asked puts additional stress in employees. I am more willing to cover for a co-worker taking time off for a genuine family need than when I feel like he is just taking advantage of me.

[Anonymous]

Not sure where you are but DC has additional protections for taking time off for school meetings. But I would at least make an attempt to reschedule the school meeting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Not sure where you are but DC has additional protections for taking time off for school meetings. But I would at least make an attempt to reschedule the school meeting.

Much easier said than done. It's very difficult to get special needs students the attention they deserve from school systems. Your boss should understand.

[Anonymous]

There is no way you can reschedule this meeting in a timely manner. Go to the meeting.

Tell your boss that you have an important health-related meeting for your child planned, it was on your calendar but perhaps you could have communicated about it more directly, and that you plan to have Amy from accounts receivable take notes for you and can you check in with your boss about things the next morning?

Don't ask. Tell, indicating your plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Change the school meeting. For future reference, always take off when you have an important school meeting. Don't risk that your calendar will stay clear.

Another special needs mom. She cannot change the school meeting. There are multiple teachers and administrators whose schedules had to be arranged and it's the end of the school year.

You simply and firmly tell your boss that you will have to miss that meeting, and you are sorry but as he knows you had scheduled this leave far in advance and it is a mandatory ADA and Family Friendly Leave Act protected event you cannot miss. You ask to be casually introduced to the big boss on another day.

If necessary you contact HR.

The school meeting is covered by neither. OP needs to work with her boss to reschedule the work meeting, but don't do it by making false statements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no way you can reschedule this meeting in a timely manner. Go to the meeting.

Tell your boss that you have an important health-related meeting for your child planned, it was on your calendar but perhaps you could have communicated about it more directly, and that you plan to have Amy from accounts receivable take notes for you and can you check in with your boss about things the next morning?

Don't ask. Tell, indicating your plan.

+1. The highlighted part is especially important.

[Anonymous]

take the school meeting and explain the situation to your boss. Mandatory meetings can be excused for special circumstances and this is one of them.

[Anonymous]

I would also suggest volunteering to help with whatever prep work needs to be done in order to make your immediate boss look good at the meeting. Even if you attended, the meeting isn't about you - it's about your boss looking good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Change the school meeting. For future reference, always take off when you have an important school meeting. Don't risk that your calendar will stay clear.

Another special needs mom. She cannot change the school meeting. There are multiple teachers and administrators whose schedules had to be arranged and it's the end of the school year.

You simply and firmly tell your boss that you will have to miss that meeting, and you are sorry but as he knows you had scheduled this leave far in advance and it is a mandatory ADA and Family Friendly Leave Act protected event you cannot miss. You ask to be casually introduced to the big boss on another day.

If necessary you contact HR.

I am a parent of a SN child as well. I've been at this for years and while I know it's hard to reschedule, it can be done. The team is not there for this meeting along and the team will be together again to deal the more kids. Last thing I would want is an antagonistic relationship ship with my boss because this meeting is not a one time thing for which OP is going to need off.

[Anonymous]

Non issue for me. School meeting trumps work meeting. Boss will get over it.

[Anonymous]

Well, the OP said that the school superintendent will be there so this strikes me as more than a run of the mill IEP meeting.

Getting all these people together again at the end of the school year may be tough. If this IS the IEP type meeting where they have a number scheduled, she can ask to switch with another family. But if this is a special meeting, she needs to attend at the scheduled time.

In fact, I doubt anyone will miss her. They will all be jostling to get their face time with the new grandboss.