I can't answer the meeting timing question, but I do have an opinion on the goose. Personally I would pay it this one time. But as I was handing the principal the cash I would let him know that I was going to follow through with my responsibility as a parent and pay for the broken item according to the student handbook guidelines. And then I would let him know that in the future I expected him to have a safe place to take my son during meltdowns or the district would be taking their responsibility and footing the bill should he be hurt by decorative ceramic objects and the like being in inappropriate locations. ;-)
Our school houses a population of students that on occassion have some pretty serious meltdowns, need restraint by principal, etc. The office is set up so that behind her desk is principal's private area--she has what she wants behind there. In front of the desk is the area she deals with kids. Table, chairs and not much of anything else.
