New management for Sci-Port Discovery Center in Shreveport

SHREVEPORT, La. – A Louisiana science centre and children’s museum that has been on financial life support and opened on a limited basis will get new management.

A new non-profit 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 non-profit, Red River STEM Inc., is supported by a group of community organizations and individuals. The Community Foundation will initially serve as the non-profit’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 non-profit 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 non-profit 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 non-profit and the Community Foundation will not be assuming the former Sci-Port non-profit’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 non-profit.

The new non-profit 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.