Beacon athletics director outlines growth, safety updates and $35,000 proposed budget increase

John Giametta, the district’s department head for athletics, presented a broad update to the Beacon City School District Board of Education on Feb. 24 on program participation, safety and facility needs.

Giametta said the district earned a School of Excellence recognition and the New York State Sportsmanship Promotion Program award, noting that 75% of varsity teams recorded GPAs of 90 percent or higher. “We are on pace to receive the School of Excellence Award again,” he said, and described a longer-term goal of a School of Distinction in which every varsity team would average a 90 percent GPA.

The presentation listed recent team milestones, including the varsity volleyball team’s first appearance in a section championship and a football team tying a school record with seven wins and its first sectional playoff victory. Giametta also noted individual achievements, including a wrestler advancing to the state championships.

Giametta reviewed program and curricular initiatives: expanded elementary sport-ed models that assign rotating team roles; continued swimming for grades…