Science Central Inc.

“The director of finance will be primarily responsible for facilitating the preparation of the irs form 990 (hereinafter "form 990") in compliance with irs regulations. He/she will work to provide information to the outside auditors for the preparation of the form 990. In advance of the filing deadline, once the form 990 has been completed, it will be submitted to the finance committee for review. After the finance committee has approved the form 990, it will be presented to the executive committee. Once the executive committee has approved it, it will be presented to the full board for review and approval prior to submission to the irs. At each level of review, the copies of the form 990 may be transmitted in either paper or electronic copy.”

“Conflicts of interest must be reported immediately; disclosure of conflicts of interest is an essential and ongoing obligation for board members in the course of their duties. If a conflict of interest is identified, it should be discussed with the president and chairman of the board to identify the proper course of remedial action. These actions may range from recusal in any business transactions involving science central or the other interested organization to withdrawing from involvement in the other organization's business or board of directors to other actions that assure the conflict of interest or even the appearance of a conflict of interest may be avoided.”

“Science central's executive committee reviews and establishes (or makes a recommendation to the full board for approval) executive compensation on an annual basis, usually in the first month of the fiscal year, based on the following factors: a. Achievement of goals and objectives as established by the executive committee, either through the establishment of such goals and objectives on an annual basis and/or successful implementation of a board approved strategic plan during the just concluded fiscal year. B. A survey of executive compensation for not-for-profit executive directors/presidents in the fort wayne, allen county and northeast indiana area, as such information is available c. Availability of funding as determined during preparation of the fiscal year's budget and approved by the executive committee or full board of directors.”

“The organization's irs form 990 for the prior three years is available at www.guidestar.org. The organizations 990 is also available at irs.gov.”

“Governing documents, policies and financial statements are available upon request.”

“Science central's mission is to be a "regional resource that provides inspiring and fun hands-on science education for all people of all ages." our purpose is to engage our community and the surrounding region with stem concepts in ways that inspire lifelong learning and future careers. Our science center provides visitors with over 200 permanent exhibits that explore and demonstrate the physical, natural, and applied sciences. In 2022, new permanent exhibits such as draw alive and the topography box were added to the floor, bringing color, movement, and a third dimension to the experience. Draw alive allows children's animal designs to come to life on-screen. Through digital imaging and real-time response, visitors see the heights and depths of geography come to life as they move the sand around the topography box. A giant kaleidoscope display and an erosion table were also added to our permanent collection. New exhibits in our early learners area, kids central, included blocks (building), lily pad (sound), and light table (shapes). With these new exhibits, we strive to provide learning experiences that are relevant to significant careers in our region, address contemporary issues, engage diverse age groups, and reach out to traditionally underserved populations such as girls and women. In addition to new exhibits, science central unveiled our completely- remodeled nature nook (formerly the swap shop). The animals all received updated living enclosures. These new, large-windowed enclosures provide the animals with brighter and roomier habitats, while also allowing visitors to see them at better vantage points. A food storage and prep station was added to the gallery where visitors can learn about what the animals eat and watch as the animals are fed each day. This provides another opportunity for staff and visitors to engage and ask questions about the animals. We have seen a lot more activity between the animals and visitors since the remodel. Over the course of the year, we were also able to present the community with three temporary exhibitions in our temporary exhibitions gallery. The first, "our weakening web," used realistic dioramas and interactive stations to teach visitors about natural extinctions and the relationships between the many organisms that make up ecosystems. Next was "a-maze-d" about mazes, games, puzzles and problem-solving. The third was "eat well, play well" about health, diet, nutrition, and exercise. Finally, we hosted "tactile da vinci," a unique exhibition about the inventions of leonardo da vinci that was designed for visitors with visual impairments, and used 3- dimensional, braille and auditory components. Every day, the demonstration theater and the noaa science on a sphere allow us the opportunity to further our mission with live programs that provide another significant educational opportunity for visitors to experience. Demonstrations for school groups and the general public complement our exhibits by providing more in-depth discussions of topics shown in our exhibits. They also provide opportunities for visitors to engage with our education staff, who are trained to explain difficult science concepts in a straightforward manner. Fundraising, architectural design and equipment acquisition continued to progress for the eventual installation of our planetarium capital project. This expansion, using both a classic starball projector and cutting-edge digital equipment will allow us to have the region's only public planetarium in the region's only science center. Everyone from mobility-impaired visitors to moms with strollers enjoyed our modified demonstration theater, which was made possible by another recent renovation. A bleacher-style retractable front row enables visitors using wheelchairs to sit with the rest of the audience. Standard-sized steps with safety strips for the visually impaired and two handrails make the upper rows of seating more accessible for those who need added stability.”