Big Changes Coming to VVS Schools: What the New Grade-Banding Plan Means for Families

VERONA, N.Y. — Big changes are coming to the Vernon-Verona-Sherrill Central School District beginning in the fall of 2026, and many parents and students are beginning to consider how the new school structure will affect their daily routines.

Under the district’s reconfiguration plan, students will attend school based on grade level instead of having multiple elementary grade levels in each community school.

New VVS School Configuration for Fall 2026

• Pre-K through Grade 1: J.D. George Elementary

• Grades 2 through 4: E.A. McAllister Elementary

• Grades 5 and 6: W.A. Wettel Elementary

• Grades 7 through 12: Grades 7–12: VVS Middle/High School (re-established as a unified 7–12 campus)

All four VVS school buildings will remain open. However, students may attend a different building than the one closest to their home.

A Major Adjustment for Students

For some students, the change may bring excitement, including the opportunity to meet new classmates and participate in programs designed specifically for their age group.

For others, leaving a familiar school, teacher, or routine could be difficult. Students may need time to adjust to a new building, bus route, daily schedule and larger group of classmates.

Families With Multiple Children Could Face New Challenges

Parents with children in different grades may experience the biggest changes.

One family could have a first grader at J.D. George, a third grader at E.A. McAllister, a sixth grader at W.A. Wettel and a high school student at the VVS Middle/High School campus.

That could mean different bus schedules, arrival and dismissal times, parent conferences, concerts, sporting events, and emergency pickup locations.

Families who drive their children to school may also need to coordinate drop-offs and pickups at multiple buildings. Childcare arrangements and work schedules could be affected depending on when each school day begins and ends.

Communication Will Be Important

As the fall 2026 transition approaches, parents will likely be looking for clear information about bus routes, school hours, classroom assignments, before- and after-school care, orientations and building procedures.

The reconfiguration represents a significant change for the entire VVS community.

How could this affect your family’s bus schedules, childcare, work hours, drop-offs, school events and daily routine?

Are you excited about the change, concerned about it or still waiting for more information?