Barnstable Public Schools Celebrates Longstanding Generosity of the Cobb Trust, Including Over $1.7 Million in Student Opportunities Since 2020

BARNSTABLE — Superintendent Dr. Sara Ahern, Assistant Superintendent Kristen Harmon and the Barnstable School Committee are proud to recognize and thank the Enoch T. Cobb Trust for its extraordinary and ongoing support of Barnstable Public Schools.

The Cobb Trust has a long and storied history in Barnstable. When Enoch T. Cobb, a resident of Barnstable, died in 1876, he left a trust to the Town, with the directive that the income be used to benefit students attending Barnstable Public Schools. Initially, the Trust’s proceeds came from the sale of firewood and were used to purchase school books for children. Over time, as Massachusetts mandated that schools provide textbooks and the sale of land replaced the sale of firewood, the mission of the Cobb Trust evolved.

Today, it provides students with a wide variety of learning experiences that enrich their educational journey.

Thanks to the leadership and stewardship of current Trustee Steve Heslinga and former Trustee David Cole, the Cobb Trust has supported countless initiatives — from art, music and athletics to after-school programs, field trips, classroom technology and enrichment materials that inspire a lifelong love of learning.

Since 2020, the Cobb Trust has invested more than $1.7 million in Barnstable Public Schools. This year alone, the Trust contributed $348,000 to support over 130 educator-proposed initiatives, a 17% increase from the previous year. As a result, nearly 85% of Barnstable students participated in a Cobb Trust-supported experience, many through school-wide programs that reached every student.

In addition to its broad support for enrichment and curriculum-based projects, the Trust made a substantial one-time gift of $145,000 this year to help launch the district’s new secondary math curriculum. This investment will fund a six-year contract with Reveal Math, providing teachers and students at Barnstable Intermediate School and Barnstable High School with engaging, real-world-aligned instructional materials.

“The Cobb Trust has truly transformed the educational experience for our students,” said Superintendent Ahern. “From literacy and technology to music, science and real-world learning, the opportunities provided through their generosity are invaluable.”

Examples of Cobb Trust-supported initiatives include:

• Multilingual classroom libraries and new welcome books
• Supplies for art, music, science and physical education
• Musical instruments to enhance arts education
• Interactive Touchview technology for K-12 classrooms
• In-class presentations from cultural and science experts
• Field trips to Cape Cod museums, nature reserves and historic sites
• Events like the Barnstable High School After Prom Celebration and Kindergarten orientation kits
• STEM tools, including forensic science kits and high-powered microscopes

“We are deeply grateful to past trustees and current Trustee Steve Heslinga for their unwavering dedication to Barnstable students,” said Assistant Superintendent Harmon. “Their leadership and commitment have directly empowered our schools to deliver more enriching, relevant and joyful learning experiences.”

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