Presentation School

Oak Square community center to be dedicated today

adamg — Fri, 18 May 2012 11:04:25 +0000

The former Our Lady of the Presentation School, shut by the Archdiocese of Boston in 2005, hosts a celebration of its rebirth as the Presentation School Foundation Community Center, with a dedication at 3:30 p.m. followed by a party until 8 p.m.

The center now offers health screenings, daycare and preschool programs and community meeting space.

The archdiocese shut the school toward the end of the school year in 2005, locking out students and teachers - and locking in some goldfish in at least one classroom. Protest marches led to 16 months of negotiation and, finally, an agreement to sell the building to a newly formed foundation, which spent eight years raising funds and rehabbing the building. The city kicked in $400,000 for the work; Mayor Menino will be on hand today, as well Brighton resident and Secretary of State Bill Galvin.

New Balance challenges Brighton residents to turn the old Presentation School into a community center

adamg — Thu, 27 May 2010 20:10:15 +0000

The Brighton-based sneaker company says that if the Presentation School Foundation raises $100,000 by June 11, it'll kick in $200,000.

Earlier this month, the foundation said it needed to raise $275,000 by mid-June to begin renovation and construction at the Oak Square site, last used as a parochial school six years ago. Because of the timing of an overall $4.5-million loan deal, the foundation says if it can't raise the money, it will have to look at selling off the building.

Under the foundation's plans, the building will house a variety of services and groups, from a pre-school and family health clinic to space for local organizations to hold meetings.

City kicks in $400,000 for new community center in Oak Square

adamg — Thu, 13 May 2010 01:53:01 +0000

The city grant, arranged by Mayor Menino and City Councilor Mark Ciommo, brings supporters of the proposed conversion of the old Presentation School into a multi-use community center oh so close to actual construction. Presentation School Foundation President Tom O'Brien told a packed room at the Y tonight that the foundation is now only $275,000 away from being able to start renovation and construction.

There is just one problem, O'Brien said: Because of conditions on bonds and loans for the project and construction cycles, the foundation has to raise the money by the first week in June or the whole project collapses and the foundation has to start looking for somebody to buy the one-time parochial school.