Notre Dame in Fitchburg rents space to charter school

Notre Dame Rents Space to Local Charter School
By Patricia O'Connell
CFP Correspondent
FITCHBURG – North Central Charter Essential School will soon occupy a large building on South Street owned by Notre Dame Prep School.

The charter school is currently located in a renovated mill building in the Cleghorn section of the city. Families received automated calls Wednesday evening informing them of a Thursday meeting, where it was announced the school plans to share space with Notre Dame.

Patricia May, NCCES high school principal, confirmed the 350-student charter school will move into its new home after the Thanksgiving weekend. NCCES has students in grades 7-12. The Notre Dame property will be its temporary home until a permanent location can be found.

Notre Dame principal and headmaster Jeffrey Hammond said in an interview  that little would change at Notre Dame as a result of it sharing its grounds with another school.

“We've been trying to rent this building for years,” he said of the large facility that faces South Street, which is primarily unoccupied.

Classes for Notre Dame's 23 students are currently held in an adjacent mansion that also serves as a dormitory for boarders. Male and female boarders have separate living quarters.

Mr. Hammond said it has been difficult heating a large building that was primarily vacant.

Notre Dame school was founded in 1952 by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart.

Notre Dame Prep educates students in grades 7-12, and according to its website, has recently added a post-graduate program.