ST. PETERSBURG - It's like a walking through a time capsule of science & technology. Not much has changed physically since the science center opened its doors back in 1959.
- Pinellas Science Center officials dealing with financial decision
- CareerSource Pinellas, which owns the center, is trying to maintain center
- Pinellas Science Center
Despite one or two new exhibits, many of the classrooms, student labs and planetarium here haven't changed in decades.
What did changed in 2014, was the center's ownership. CareerSource Pinellas bought it then hoping to incorporate it into vocational training for job seekers. But new CEO Jennifer Brackney says that's been a challenge.
“It's tough to keep this up,” said CareerSource Pinellas CEO Jennifer Brackney. “This takes a lot of time, effort and money. And you're looking for jobs. You're not looking to clean a garden. Exactly, so it needs some TLC, but we do use it.”
But too many empty classrooms too much out of date technology and a $700,000 bill to pay this fall has offficals rethinking what to do with this place.
“We have not voted to close the science center,” Brackney said. “But we are really taking a look at what are some of those options. We could refinance.”
As they plan to find re-purpose for the science center, officials have started cutting back on programs liike the summer camp.
“It was a magical place of scientific inspiration where boundaries were endless,” Brackney said.
Tiffany Rimar Quintero remembers going to the center as a child. Now as a veterinarian, she says she owes her career to this place. And that shutting it down shouldn't even be on the table.
“If we do not inspire our (youth) from a scientific baseline, we are all in trouble,” Quintero said. “That's where medicine comes from and engineering. All of it.”
Knowing that, Brackney is optimistic that the science center's days are far from over.
“Who knows what's ahead for the science center,” Brackney said. “It has had a very rich history and i think it could have a really great future.”