Governing body and laptop

[ozydave]

Hello all

How many of you hand out laptops to people on the governing body to keep with them 24/7?

 

I assume I cannot use a licence from our schools agreement for OS and office? Surely this would break the schools agreement license.

Any pointer wold be good.

 

Also would you allow them admin rights to install their own software?

 

Cheers

[elsiegee40]

Umm! No! I am a Chair of Govs and can confidently say that this is not the case at any of the many schools with whom I have contact through governance!

 

And in answer to the second bit. Definitely not. School laptop. School control. Business use only.

[plexer]

Not at our school either and I see no reason to.

 

Ben

[Marshall_IT]

Not at either of the schools I have worked at.

[Roberto]

No, Yes I suspect you're right about that, and not on your nelly.

[ozydave]

I've never heard of it either. I work for the strangest place on earth! Or is it run up the strangest people on earth

[synaesthesia]

Sounds like yet another "we want a perk" type thing...

[elsiegee40]

It does... and I would be very concerned about the GB. Is this an academy? Not that that gives you any more entitlement. My governor school is an academy.

[localzuk]

Governors aren't engaging in day to day work for the school (that's for the staff to do), they aren't employees and as far as I can tell they don't have a need for laptops. They don't create policies, for example, the school staff do and then governors agree on them.

 

Don't think I've ever heard of governors having laptops before actually!

[elsiegee40]

Governors aren't engaging in day to day work for the school (that's for the staff to do), they aren't employees and as far as I can tell they don't have a need for laptops. They don't create policies, for example, the school staff do and then governors agree on them.

 

Don't think I've ever heard of governors having laptops before actually!

 

Governors shouldn't be operational... their role is strategic. However, the liabilities of trustees of an academy trust, also called governors sometimes, are more operational as they are the legal owners of the business that is the academy trust. I am a trustee... I still don't get a laptop. We are not allowed to be paid, even in kind.

Edited September 19, 2014 by elsiegee40

[ozydave]

Yep you guessed it we are an academy.

Would love to say no but think the door would be hitting me on the way out :-)

[elsiegee40]

The EFA might take an interest in this were it to be reported...

[ozydave]

We are not allowed to be paid, even in kind.

Ah prop why the iphone and iPad was returned 2 years ago !

Edited September 19, 2014 by ozydave

[synaesthesia]

Perhaps you should raise it with them. A few academy chains have had run-ins with the EFA recently, and you believe it's in the best interest of your school, it's pupils and the Academy (whether it's a trust, chain or otherwise) if they do not go down that route. You are just protecting them.

[Marshall_IT]

All you can do is make your recommendations, raise your concerns and see what they say. To flat out refuse can put you in a difficult position.

[ozydave]

I kid you not, even to raise it internally here would make my position untenable. Seen a number of staff raise various things in the past only to the isolated, cold shouldered and force to leave. Things have been raised at VERY high levels externally for nothing to happen.

 

Sure at some point things will come and bit them in the bum

[synaesthesia]

Not good! Depending on personal circumstance of course, I would perhaps be inclined to go through with their request only after having mentioned you are doing so under duress (or with grievance) and then report them to the EFA.

 

I say that through gritted teeth as under any circumstance, reporting that is the one thing anyone should absolutely do in that situation, but that's always easier said than done when you have no way of getting another job. May be a better way of doing it of course, unfortunately I'm as blunt as they come and in the same situation I'd have called them all money grabbers who are in it for the wrong reasons - whilst being on the line with the EFA myself.

[truebluesteve]

Certainly never been asked here and I would be very much against it. There is no need for them to have one either as far as I am concerned.

 

Having said all that I certainly wouldn't jeopardise my job or make my life difficult over it. I think I would my make my position known and then get on with whatever they wanted to do. You have to pick your battles carefully!

[ozydave]

Going to make it clear to line manger in writing I don't think it should be happening. But do it

 

The laptop will be locked down tighter than a nats chuff.

 

Bet in the very near future I will be asked to remove restrictions an leg then install software

[plexer]

I wouldn't I'd be challenging it all the way.

 

Ben

[synaesthesia]

What you have to think of is the spending on public money. Money that should be spent bettering the education of the pupils within the establishment. Is the parent governor in on it as well? Either way, I bet the parents would be livid...

[ozydave]

Just found out that this chap that is to have the laptop is the Clark to the governors. Assume this make no difference ?

[synaesthesia]

No. Does he not have a computer already? Most you should need to provide them really is an email address!

[plexer]

So he's not actually on the governing body and is probably being paid to be the clerk as well.

 

Ben

[elsiegee40]

Clerk does make a difference. Clerk is an employee and definitely gets a laptop. It's essential. Still no admin rights though!