Changing face of Saugus new problem for schools

SAUGUS - They might not be teaching much in the way of foreign languages in the schools these days, but they are certainly speaking them.

Once viewed as a largely white English-speaking community, Saugus’ growing diversity is becoming a growing problem for the School Department.

According to Special Education Director Cynthia Joyce, there are nine different languages being spoken in the school system and essentially no English Language Learning program in place. Along with English, students can also hear strains of Spanish, Vietnamese, Portuguese, Urdu, Hindi, Somalian, Cambodian, Chinese and Creole in the hallways.

Superintendent Richard Langlois said the district had about 30 ESL (English as a second language) students and that number has since doubled, but the number of support staff for those students has not.

Langlois said there is one person for the entire district dedicated to working with the non-English speaking students and no formal program.

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Changing face of Saugus new problem for schools.