In the past year, the Hispanic student population has risen 22 percent while the overall student population has grown only 3 percent. That growth has greatly enhanced the diversity within local schools, but it has also stretched local resources thin. “We need more people who understand the needs of the children,” said English as a second language teacher Margaret Nunn, who works at Meadowlark.

While the ESL population has increased by 48 students over the past year — bringing the total number to 129 — there are still only 2.2 full-time ESL teacher positions to work with those students. The ratio is actually far better than the one ESL teacher to 100 students that the state Department of Education recommends, but some teachers say it’s still not ideal.

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