Plans to locate the Oak Grove Cape Verdean Cultural Center next to the former Oak Grove School in Onset have changed, according to Anthony "Tiny" Lopes, president of the center's Board of Directors.

Lopes and the board originally wanted the Oak Grove Cape Verdean Cultural Center to be located next to the former school at 314 Onset Avenue. Now members of the group planning the center are looking at other buildings in Onset for their future center, Lopes said.

The Oak Grove School was built in 1913 and the vast majority of its students were Cape Verdean. Many elderly Cape Verdeans on the South Coast, including Lopes' father, went to the school, Lopes said.

"Oak Grove was always identified as the Cape Verdean school," Lopes said.

The Town of Wareham gave the cultural center's board a 99-year lease in 2008 for a section of land located next to the school. After the initial designs and plans were completed, the estimated cost of building a new center was about $1.3 million, Lopes said.

The board started to receive donations, but the downturn in the economy put a dent in its efforts to raise funds, Lopes said. Now the organization is looking at other buildings in Onset as a way to lower the cost.

"Our goal is to purchase a vacant facility that we can call home," Lopes said. "We cannot achieve our dream at this time" of locating next to the Oak Grove School. "But at least we can have a building."

The board is planning to offer adult education classes in the facility, along with job training, English as a Second Language, and GED classes. Lopes said that board members are talking with Bridgewater State University officials to provide financial support and resources such as textbooks.

The center will serve as an educational, community, and cultural facility, Lopes said. In addition to adult education classes, community groups can use the facility for meetings and other events.

The facility will also be a resource center for Cape Verdean culture.

"Cape Verdean dress, books, videos, magazines. Cape Verdean culture that you didn't think exists" will be located at the center, Lopes said. "If you are a Cape Verdean, you will be able to go down to the facility and learn about your genealogy and your history."

All community members will be warmly welcomed, Lopes said.

"Bring the buses. Come in. We'll educate you about our islands," Lopes said.