The recipient entity's physical address:
           100 RIVER ROAD SOUTH
BATON ROUGE, LA 70802

The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           100 RIVER ROAD SOUTH
BATON ROUGE, LA 70802

Type of Entity (for instance, a nonprofit corporation):  Non-Profit Corporation

If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
          Mr. Fred H. Bock
Dr. Gulnar K. Bosch
Mr. Jay R. Broussard
Mrs. J. F. Butterworth
Mrs. Camille E. Cazedessus
Mr. Frank Craig, Jr.
Mrs. W. Hamilton Crawford
Dr. John D. Greene
Mrs. Ernest Gueymard
Mrs. O. Caldwell Herget
Mr. Joseph S. Hutchison
Mr. A. R. Johnson, III
Mrs. J. K. Matens
Mrs. George H. Menefee
Mrs. James 0. Mullins
Mrs. William A. Nichols
Mrs. Minnie Perkins
Mrs. Thomas B. Pugh
Mr. W. E. Robinson 282
Dr. Sidney B. Smith
Mr. A. Hays Town
Mrs. Henry J. Voorhies
Mrs. Scallen E Walsh
Mrs. Wesley Wiksell
Mrs. Wilson H. Williams
Mrs. W. Floyd Williamson, Jr.
Mrs. H. B. Witter
Mrs. Sparkman H. Wyatt
Mr. H. Payne Breazeale
Dr. Lloyd V. Funchess
Mr. Ralph Hileman
Mrs. Mary Jane Kahao

The last four digits of the entity's taxpayer ID number:  2138

What is the dollar amount of the request?  $250,000

What type of request is this?  General Appropriation

Is this entity in good standing with the Secretary of State?  Yes

Provide the name of each member of the recipient entity's governing board and officers:
           President & Executive Director - Karen M. Soniat, Ph.D.
100 River Road South, Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Board of Trustees:

Chair - Paul "Drew" Tessier
1121 Belvedere Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Chair-Elect - Scott Gaudin
1854 Cedardale Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Secretary - Melissa Dotson
15235 Copping Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70810

Treasurer - C. Alex Tucker
1613 Rosemont Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Member-at-Large – Paula Davis
2644 Fairway Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70809

Member-at-Large – Seth Schilling
10836 Gatewood Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70810

Member-at-Large – Joshua Hollins
13467 Kings Court Ave., Baton Rouge, LA, 70810

Member-at-Large - Kristy McKearn
2912 Mcllhenny Drive, Baton Rouge, LA, 70809

Immediate Past Chair - Elizabeth Canfield
2360 Oleander St., Baton Rouge, LA, 70806

Sarah Allen
17839 British Ln., Baton Rouge, LA, 70810

Noah Boudreaux
13780 Quail Grove Ave., Baton Rouge, LA, 70810

Tyler Gray
533 Woodstone Drive, Baton Rouge, LA, 70808

Sarah Haneline
8404 River Road, Geismar, LA, 70734

Dr. Louis Jeansonne IV
3521 Torrance Drive, Baton Rouge, LA, 70809

Haley Jones
1530 Hideaway Court, Baton Rouge, LA, 70806

Parker Kilgore
4333 Broussard Street, Baton Rouge, LA, 70806

Heather LeBlanc
1244 Glenmore Ave, Baton Rouge, LA, 70806

Erin Nugent
2775 McConnell Drive, Baton Rouge, LA, 70809

Julio Perez
531 Woodgate Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA, 70808

Mendi Robinson
9960 Meadow Lane, Denham Springs, LA, 70726

Dr. Melissa Thompson
1213 Kenilworth Parkway, Baton Rouge, LA, 70808

Shawn Usher
624 South Lakeshore Drive, Baton Rouge, LA, 70808

Lauren Whatley
8507 Scarlett Dr., Baton Rouge, LA, 70806

Daryl Williams
12074 Rotterdam Ave, Geismar, LA, 70734

Provide a summary of the project or program:
           Funding will support the Louisiana Art & Science Museum's general operations, providing salary/wage support for employees who are essential to directing and implementing the museum's services and activities including school field trip programming, changing art and science exhibitions, Irene W. Pennington Planetarium programming, and ongoing renovation projects intended to modernize the museum's offerings and increase attendance.

Significant human resources-related planning is currently in progress, driven by Dr. Soniat. General operating support funding for staff salaries/wages will enable this work to begin moving from planning to implementation.

What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $250,000
          Professional Services. . . $0
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . $0
          Major Repairs . . . . . . . $0
          Operating Services. . . . $0
          Other Charges. . . . . . . $0

Does your organization have any outstanding audit issues or findings?  No

If 'Yes' is your organization working with the appropriate governmental agencies to resolve those issues or findings?
          Not Applicable

What is the entity's public purpose, sought to be achieved through the use of state monies?
          The mission of the Louisiana Art & Science Museum (LASM) is: "We seek to enhance the understanding and appreciation of art and science for general audiences and students by presenting unique, educational, and entertaining experiences that encourage discovery, inspire creativity, and foster the pursuit of knowledge."

State monies will support LASM's general operations, providing salary/wage support for employees who are essential to directing and implementing the museum's services and activities including school field trip programming, changing art and science exhibitions, Irene W. Pennington Planetarium programming, and ongoing renovation projects intended to modernize the museum's offerings and increase attendance.

What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          LASM's staff members are essential to achieving the museum's mission and serving the public. The museum's Board of Trustees and Karen M. Soniat, Ph.D., LASM's new President & Executive Director as of May 1, 2024, have identified improving human resources as a significant opportunity to advance the museum's mission.

As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, LASM operates on thin budget margins; the number of museum staff members is roughly proportional to the services and programs that the museum can provide the public. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, LASM employed approximately 63 staff members (mix of full and part-time). LASM's workforce decreased to approximately 12 (full time) by April 2020. After incrementally rehiring, LASM currently employs approximately 40 staff members (mix of full and part-time).

Significant human resources-related planning is currently in progress, driven by Dr. Soniat. General operating support funding for staff salaries/wages will enable this work to begin moving from planning to implementation, the goals and objectives for which are outlined below.

The primary goals are:

1) Retain current employees, creating a positive working environment that fosters the innovation, collaboration, and creativity necessary to advance the museum's mission.

2) Offer the employee support, pay, and benefits needed to attract employees with the qualifications and skills necessary to advance the museum.

3) Align essential museum functions with the appropriate staff members.

The primary objectives to achieve these goals are:

1) "De-coupling" dual job descriptions (such as "Museum Store AND Membership Manager", "Frontline Services AND Technology Manager") where possible.

2) Rehiring positions that have been vacant since the Covid-19 pandemic.

3) Increasing staff wages to better keep pace with industry standards and inflation.

4) Strategically restructuring the organizational chart to create a sustainable and efficient organizational structure.

What is the proposed length of time estimated by the entity to accomplish the purpose?
           Approximately 3 years are needed to significantly improve human resources at LASM. Receiving $250,000 in extremely generous funding to support staff salaries/wages during year 1 would be an important first step.

If any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official is an officer, director, trustee, or employee of the recipient entity who receives compensation or holds any ownership interest therein:
     (a) If an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of the official and the office held by such person:
                 Paula P. Davis is a State Representative for the Louisiana House of Representatives, representing District 69. Davis serves as an officer on LASM's Board of Trustees (Member-at-Large).

Davis's Home Address: 2644 Fairway Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70809
Davis's District Office Address: 7902 Wrenwood Blvd., Suite D., Baton Rouge, LA 70809

Tyler Gray is Secretary for the Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources. Gray is a member of LASM's Board of Trustees.

Gray's Home Address: 533 Woodstone Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70808
    
     (b) If an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of such person; the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related; and the nature of the relationship:
                 N/A

     (c) The percentage of the official's or immediate family member's ownership interest in the recipient entity, if any:
                 0

     (d) The position, if any, held by the official or immediate family member in the recipient entity:
                  Louisiana House of Representatives District 69 - Paula P. Davis; Secretary for the Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources - Tyler Gray

If the recipient entity has a contract with any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official or with the state or any political subdivision of the state:
(a) If the contract is with an elected or appointed state official, provide the name and address of the official and the office held by such person: 
               N/A

(b) If the contract is with an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official:
          Provide the name and address of such person:
               N/A

          Provide the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related:
                N/A

          What is the nature of the relationship?  N/A

(c) If the contract is with the state or a political subdivision of the state, provide the name and address of the state entity or political subdivision of the state:
                 N/A

(d) The nature of the contract, including a description of the goods or services provided or to be provided pursuant to the contract:
               N/A


Contact Information
name:  Frances Lee Mykoff 
                                       address:  100 South River Rd.
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
                                       phone:  2253445272 x 112
                                       fax:  2253449477
                                       e-mail:  fmykoff@lasm.org
                                       relationship to entity:  Employee - Development Director