TOTEM ASSOCIATION

Good morning, TOTEM,                                                              [ Posted 8/5/2026 ]

 

I understand there is a lot of confusion and frustration about the information that may or may not have been shared by your Principal/Supervisor regarding the latest version of the ASD start and end dates for our 9-month staff. I have attached the notification, the new start/end date memo, and a copy of the LOA. All of this will also be posted to our TOTEM website, as well as our official TOTEM FB page by the end of the day (see my signature line below for that information).

 

TOTEM was not made aware of the issue until mid-July, well into the summer, and into the 2026-2027 school year. Due to the new AEA contract (TA'd in January 2026), and the addition of three (3) additional scheduled workdays for our certificated staff, there was no planning or forethought to how that may impact the budget for those 9-month staff who work on the same calendar. There was no money budgeted to do this on top of the 90m budget shortfall for 2026-2027.
 

Unfortunately, this only impacts our 9-month staff. This is a one-time, non-precedent setting situation. You can be assured that this will be a discussion at the bargaining table this fall so that it does NOT happen again. I am aware of the impact this can have financially; however, you will be working the same 182-day schedule as in past years. That hasn't changed. 
 

I have been asked, doesn't the CBA (contract) state how many days, or hours, etc. that people work. The answer is no. That is called management rights. The district has the right to set hours, start/end dates, and other items. This is not a contract violation.
 

9-month staff are scheduled for:

• 8/17/26 report date

• 10/12/26 Indigenous Peoples day (non-work, non-paid day and no leave may be used). This is a non-school day for students as well.

• 5/28/27 last day of work (same as students). 

​

This is an adjustment from 185-workdays (school calendar) to the 182-workdays budgeted.

​

I am happy to answer general questions, however, if it is a school specific question, please reach out to your Principal/Supervisor.

Sandy Thompson Wallace, CAP
President
TOTEM Association of Educational Support Personnel, Inc. 6265
(907) 562-1183 office
(907) 562-0866 fax
 

                                                                                                            SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: