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Powerhouse Science Center will be back

I appreciated the editorial (Herald, May 24) regarding the sudden closure of the Powerhouse Science Center. I agree that the board failed in its oversight duty and in particular failed to exercise its fiduciary responsibilities. I also agree that the closure might have been handled less abruptly.

But I would like to correct one impression the editorial made: Nana Naisbitt was not the problem. Quite the contrary, she is a crucial part of the solution. Naisbitt is a capable nonprofit executive with long experience in science education.

It is easy to point fingers in a circumstance such as this, and there is plenty of blame to go around, but the fact of the matter is that virtually everything the PSC did lost money. We in the STEAM Park became aware of their precarious position when Peggy Zemach joined the PSC board in February and discovered what was happening. Members of our leadership team later worked with Naisbitt to try to sort out a murky financial situation. Be assured, the closure of the PSC was inevitable. It was simply running out of money, and its managers failed to grasp the situation in time.

I am confident that the PSC can be resurrected. Naisbitt is doing the right things. Many members of the community have contributed money or other goods or have volunteered to help. The PSC board is being reformed and will undergo board-member training, and an advisory board is being formed to add perspective. Those who are helping to save the PSC believe, as I do, that having a science education center in our community is vital. It is vital to our schools and to our children’s and grandchildren’s science education. I believe that you get the community you deserve, and if enough of us in Durango and the Four Corners will keep the faith and volunteer our time or donate money, the PSC will rise from the ashes and be stronger and better than before. I would urge everyone to support this vital community resource and its new executive director.

Terry R. Bacon, president, Durango STEAM Park

Durango



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