Cabot reports 492 English learners, highlights newcomer supports and family nights

During the Superintendent’s report, the district presented an ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) program update outlining enrollment, services and family engagement efforts.

The presenter, identified in the transcript only as an ESOL staff member, said the district serves 492 English learner students and registered three new students the morning of the meeting. The presenter described roughly 300 of those students as emergent or newcomers with low English proficiency and said last year about 70 students exited ESOL monitoring after meeting proficiency benchmarks. “I am an ESOL student myself, moved here when I was 14, and the only reason I made it before is because of teachers,” the presenter said, explaining a personal connection to the work.

The district provides an accelerated English class, push‑in supports in mainstream classes, and targeted intervention time. The presenter said ESOL supports span elementary and secondary levels and include curriculum intended to prepare students to participate in other classes. At the high school level, the presenter said 41 seniors last year received bilingual medallions at graduation; the presenter also referenced certification of American Sign Language as a language option for recognition.

Family engagement was a major emphasis: ESOL staff reported family nights that have drawn more than 200 attendees and aim to link families to clinics, banks, churches and other services and to each other. The presenter said the events help families feel welcome and assist with registration, free/reduced‑price lunch enrollments and translation for conferences.

The board thanked the ESOL presenter and noted the program’s role as a community bridge for students and families.