The Vernon Verona Sherrill Central School District has a budget and a new superintendent for the 2025-2026 school year.
Given a second chance to vote on the district’s proposed budget, which needed 60% approval because it exceeded the district’s tax caps, residents turned out in higher numbers June 17 to vote 1,065 to 693 for the budget, letting it pass with 61% approval.
The budget was defeated 612 to 547 with not quite 53% approval during school elections May 20.
And the school board announced the appointment of Corey Graves, currently the superintendent of Stockbridge Valley Central School District, as the district’s next superintendent, starting August 1.
The district’s current superintendent Martha Group is retiring at the end of the school year after 42 years in education.
“Mr. Graves stood out to us for his experience, his understanding of our culture and the successful leadership he already demonstrated in his former district,” school board President Ann Pangburn said in a statement. “He is a match for what we value in VVS — integrity, transparency, putting kids first, and strong people skills. He also brings a deep understanding of the financial, instructional, and social-emotional dimensions of education.
“We believe he will hit the ground running, continue the good work already underway, and offer fresh eyes and ideas that will make us even stronger.”
About the budget
Passage of the school budget continues the district’s tradition of educational excellence and its commitment to the well-being of all students, Group said.
“This support enables us to continue offering a full range of academic and support services, extracurricular opportunities and athletic programs that enrich the lives of all VVS students,” she said in a statement. “The robust voter turnout makes it clear that our community places a high value on the education of its children, and we are pleased to move forward together to serve all our students in the coming year and beyond.”
The $48.3 million only increased spending by 0.75%, but relied on a 5.99% increase in the tax levy. The district’s tax cap was 4.65%.
This budget is the district’s first to exceed the tax cap.
The budget cuts two administrative positions, but avoided teacher or support staff layoffs, Group explained after the budget’s initial defeat.
The roots of this year’s tax cap exceedance go back to the COVID-19 pandemic and the years that followed when the district put in additional programs and services to support students and their families. Funding for those programs stopped before the need so the district used fund balance to keep them in place and tax increases down, Group explained at that time.
The district has a five-year financial plan to keep spending increases at less than 1%, using fund balance money to stay below the tax cap and to rebuild reserves by 2028-2029, Group said.
About the new superintendent
As superintendent in Stockbridge Valley, Graves led initiatives to improve student outcomes, enhance instructional programs and strengthen relationships within the district and with the community, according to the VVS school board.
Over the years, he has also worked as a middle school principal, a high school assistant principal, an athletic director, director of academics and a teacher.
Graves, a district resident and parent, expressed his excitement to come to VVS, a district that, he said, has given so much to him and to his family.
“VVS has a proud tradition of academic excellence, strong values, and community connection,” he said in a statement. “I look forward to working alongside the talented faculty and staff to build upon that foundation and expand opportunities for all students. The chance to lead in the district where I live, raise my family and have deep generational ties is both a privilege and a responsibility I embrace wholeheartedly.”
Graves was chosen by a search process that ended up evaluating 23 applicants who got narrowed to a field of 10, then five before two candidates were chosen for the final interview round.
The process included interviews, focus groups, meetings and community surveys.
“The input we received about what the community wanted in a new superintendent was a vital part of our process,” Pangburn said in the statement. “VVS is a great district — we value our teachers, staff, and families. We work together for the good of future generations, and we have a bright future.”
Graves’ career has demonstrated his commitment to building inclusive school cultures, prioritizing community engagement and championing student success, the school board stressed in its announcement of his appointment.
“My mission is to support the success of every student by fostering a personalized, whole-child approach to education, where academic growth, character development, and future readiness are equally valued,” Graves said in the statement. “I am committed to building strong partnerships with families, staff and the broader community to ensure that every child feels seen, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential.”
Graves holds an M.S. in health education from SUNY Cortland and a certificate of advanced study in educational leadership from SUNY Oswego.
“What makes VVS truly special is our people,” Graves said in the statement. “I plan to build on that by creating meaningful engagement opportunities, supporting professional growth and ensuring that our schools continue to serve as a cornerstone of the community where every student is inspired to dream big and achieve more.
“Together, we will uphold the proud traditions that define VVS while embracing innovation to prepare our students for success in an ever-evolving world.”
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: VVS passes budget over tax cap on second try, announces new superintendent
Reporting by Amy Neff Roth, Utica Observer Dispatch / Observer-Dispatch
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