SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) - A Louisiana science center and children’s museum that has been on financial life support and opened on a limited basis will get new management.
A new nonprofit backed by the Community Foundation of North Louisiana will take over the Shreveport-owned building that houses the Sci-Port Discovery Center, officials announced at a news conference Wednesday. The old management, Sci-Port Discovery Center Inc., is out.
The new nonprofit, Red River STEM Inc., is supported by a group of community organizations and individuals. The Community Foundation will initially serve as the nonprofit’s fiscal agency, The Shreveport Times reported .
In 2017, Sci-Port’s financial difficulties came to light when an audit by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office concluded that the nonprofit had improperly used donor-restricted funds for purposes not approved by donors.
The Sci-Port’s long-time executive director left the organization and its nonprofit board announced that the attraction would close for an upgrade as well as to get its finances in order. The attraction opened on a limited basis earlier this year but most of Sci-Port’s more than 70 employees were laid off.
Community Foundation President Kristina Gustavson said the new nonprofit and the Community Foundation will not be assuming the former Sci-Port nonprofit’s debts. Specialized staff members currently employed at Sci-Port will be “strongly recommended” for positions under the new management.
Rich Lamb, chairman of the board that has operated Sci-Port, declined to say in an interview Wednesday how much Sci-Port Discovery Inc. owed in debt, but said that it was a “big number.” Lamb also said none the members of the Sci-Port Board of Directors or Sci-Port Discovery Center Inc. will be involved with the new nonprofit.
The new nonprofit must conclude an agreement with the City of Shreveport, though Sci-Port’s IMAX and Power of Play children’s museum will remain open pending city approval of the new arrangement.
Gustavson said a full opening is expected this fall.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.