The One Area That Needs an Overhaul

The School Meeting Fiasco

There is no doubt there is a massive increase in workload that is having a negative effect on educators’ mental fitness. There are many areas we can improve, however one space that I feel is overlooked and due to for repair is the “MEETING”

I have been working with several schools implementing The School Meeting Ecosystem and kicking major goals and I would love to share the framework with you so you to can have success.

So, for the whole of Term 2, each week the By George article is going to explain each component of the framework with resources on how to implement the changes in your school.

In today’s article I explain the why, what and outcomes. 

Intentional Meetings that are Effective, Efficient and EnergisingStaff mental fitness is closely linked to how their time, energy, and voice are respected in the workplace. One of the most overlooked contributors to staff stress and disengagement is the meeting culture within a school. When meetings are irrelevant, run overtime, lack purpose, or feel top-down and uncollaborative, staff can walk away frustrated, unheard, and emotionally drained. Over time, this erodes trust, motivation, and connection—key components of a mentally fit workplace.

The School Meeting Ecosystem was developed in response to this growing need for clarity, structure, and shared ownership. It transforms meetings from a burden to a strategic tool for staff wellbeing, leadership efficiency, and whole-school improvement. 

Why This Framework is Needed

In many schools, there are 56 hours annually allocated to key meetings: Staff Development Days, Staff Meetings, Team Collaboration and Leadership Sessions. Yet over time, the meeting load has expanded—committee meetings, crisis responses, volunteer catchups, and ad hoc additions have created a tangle of pressure and confusion.

This disjointed approach contributes to:

• Mental exhaustion

• Decision fatigue for leaders

• A sense of irrelevance among staff

• Loss of time without gain in clarity

The School Meeting Ecosystem provides a circuit-breaker. It realigns the entire school around intentional, energising meetings that reduce anxiety, increase autonomy, and build a culture of shared ownership.

What It Includes

Every meeting is mapped, resourced, and aligned with school goals and staff needs. Meetings are no longer fillers or time-eaters—they are purpose-built and human-centred.

• Whole School Planning (Annual): Reflection and recalibration of goals and strategies.

• Professional Development Days (5 per year): Focused, relevant learning designed by staff.

• Staff Meetings (Quarterly): Whole-staff participation in operational direction.

• Leadership Team Meetings (Twice a Term): Clear status updates and shared decisions.

• Team (Phase of Learning Team) Meetings (Twice a Term): Professional collaboration around the Plan–Teach–Assess cycle in year or Phase of Learning Teams.

• Check-In meetings (Daily): Informal interactions from administration to share cares, concerns, and celebrations.

• Task Force Meetings (trade-off Dec. PL): Contribution to meaningful school events or curriculum process discussion.

 Each meeting serves one or more of the following core purposes:

To Resolve. To Improve. To Decide. To Share.

The Outcomes

Schools that adopt the School Meeting Ecosystem experience a shift in culture:

• Mental fitness improves as staff experience more purposeful interactions and less wasted time.

• Leaders regain capacity through a structured, distributed model of decision-making.

• Staff feel seen and valued, contributing to higher morale and a stronger sense of belonging.

• Meetings run on time, with clarity and follow-through, which boosts trust and confidence.

• Communication becomes clean and consistent, reducing anxiety and increasing team flow.

In short, meetings start working for people—not against them.

Here is a simple outline of how The School Meeting Ecosystem works in the school.

Next week – How to Check in Meaningfully