From the 10/6/05 Toledo Blade:

 

COSI trims 3 jobs, to close on Mondays to slash deficit

By TAD VEZNER

BLADE STAFF WRITER

 

COSI Toledo, facing a budget deficit of up $500,000, has cut three jobs and will be closed Mondays starting in November.  Dr. F. Michael Walsh, chairman of COSI's board of directors, said the science center in downtown Toledo anticipated a $300,000 shortfall in its $3.3 million operating budget for the 2005 fiscal year, which ended in June, because of declining support and attendance.

 

But COSI's budget incurred unanticipated expenses, including a severance package for outgoing President Bill Booth as well as an unforeseen payment to Exploratorium, a San Francisco-based science center.  Dr. Walsh said depending on how those "one-time hits" are handled - all absorbed in the current fiscal year or spread out over several fiscal years

 

COSI will face anywhere from a $250,000 to $500,000 shortfall once the final reconciliation for the 2005 fiscal year is complete.  To address the deficits, COSI on Monday eliminated three positions: marketing manager, director of education, and an administrative assistant. COSI officials said that decision will save the organization about $100,000.  The Monday closings will save another $30,000.

 

Full article at http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051006/NEWS16/510060436/-1/NEWS

That Portside thing has been hit several times by the lack of support and such.  If COSI closes there, what should go there then?  Residential, perhaps?

I haven't been to the "new" COSI on the riverfront, but everyone who went to the old one and then the newer one says that they lost a lot of what adults liked.

 

They are closed two days a week in Columbus and had mass layoffs last year.  They also closed a section of COSI. 

 

Now they are doing better and will actually be in the black  A LOT when 2005 is over.  This is only because they had the Titanic exhibit come.  It brought in people from all 50 states and had their highest attendance ever.  They are the second musem to get the "Star Wars" props from the movie and "artifacts" tour next summer.  It seems as they are trying to bring in exciting things to bolster their profits, but COSI isnt really as educational these days.

From the 1/6/06 Toledo Blade:

 

COSI says levy needed to prevent closing in '06

By TAD VEZNER

BLADE STAFF WRITER

 

COSI Toledo officials said yesterday that the downtown science center could go out of business by the end of the year unless they pass a levy they want to put on the November ballot.  "From a board perspective, we see no alternatives," said Dr. F. Michael Walsh, president of COSI Toledo's board of directors.  "If we don't get external funding, in all probability, we will be out of business by the end of 2006."

 

COSI Toledo has an operating budget of about $3.2 million for the fiscal year, which ends in June.  The organization's budget anticipates revenues of about $2.85 million for the period.  The agency receives about $2.15 million in revenues from visitors, and about $700,000 from grants and foundations.  COSI Toledo has $750,000 in cash reserves to cover the projected $350,000 deficit, Dr. Walsh said.

 

The levy likely would be a five-year, 0.125-mill property tax, but could be larger depending on whether the science center would be required to offer free entry to county residents, Dr. Walsh said.  A 0.125-mill levy, which would cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $4 a month, or $48 a year, would raise an estimated $1.25 million annually.  A levy proposal needs to undergo a citizens' review and be approved by the Lucas County commissioners before it can be placed on the ballot.

 

Full article at http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060106/NEWS16/601060336/-1/rss

From the 2/28/06 Toledo Blade:

 

COSI cuts jobs, mulls fall ballot levy plea

2nd series of layoffs since Nov. idles 8

By CLYDE HUGHES

BLADE STAFF WRITER

 

Six full-time and two part-time COSI Toledo employees were laid off yesterday to trim the downtown science center’s budget in the face of an expected revenue shortfall.  Lori Hauser, COSI Toledo’s director of operations, said the move will save $300,000 annually in salary and benefits.  She said those jobs could be restored if the science center is able to pass a levy it wants to put on the ballot in November.

 

“[The layoffs were] something we did not want to do,” Ms. Hauser said.  “It’s totally an economic decision. We will do our best to maintain the experience [of COSI] for our visitors. Some things might slightly change, but we will do our best to continue the experience.”

 

It’s the second time in four months COSI Toledo has chosen to trim its staff.  The center cut three jobs in November after its executive director, Bill Booth, was asked to step down in May.  COSI Toledo has an operating budget of $3.2 million for the fiscal year before the layoffs; the fiscal year ends in June.  The organization’s budget anticipates revenues of about $2.8 million for that period.

 

Full article at http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060301/NEWS24/603010362/-1/NEWS

From the 3/31/06 Toledo Blade:

 

COSI considers converting to science school for teens

Public would still be able to visit, view exhibits

By TAD VEZNER

BLADE STAFF WRITER

 

COSI Toledo has entered into preliminary talks with area colleges and universities to possibly revamp the downtown science center into a school where teenage students could take science classes for credit, organization officials said yesterday.

 

The restructuring would require the center to close during August and September, the center's slowest months, when it traditionally suffers a $300,000 to $400,000 shortfall.

 

"COSI would essentially become a teaching laboratory. There may be a magnet school, or charter school there," said Dr. F. Michael Walsh, president of COSI Toledo's board of directors.  "The [COSI] board is leaning heavily toward that."  The center would still have exhibits open to the public, Dr. Walsh added.

 

Full article at http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060331/NEWS16/603310325/-1/RSS

 

I find it interesting that Cincy never got into COSI.  We of course always had our own museums.  I didn't know COSI was in Toledo and CMH.

I didn't know COSI was in Toledo and CMH.

 

I think COSI is only in Toledo and Columbus, the original being the latter. There are other similar musuems around the country to be sure, but those are the only two that are billed as "COSI."

anybody know how the twin of portside is doing in lexington, ky? it is or was connected to rupp arena. better? i think there may even be more of these portside clones around -- not sure.

From the 11/9/06 Toledo Blade:

 

COSI seeks interim financial solution

Levy loss forces board to scramble

By JENNI LAIDMAN

BLADE STAFF WRITER

 

COSI Toledo's board of directors said yesterday they are hoping the city and Lucas County can provide $300,000 to $400,000 to help the downtown children's museum survive long enough to find a long-term solution to its financial crisis.

 

A 0.167-mill, five-year levy for the hands-on science museum was defeated by just 1,605 votes out of the 137,915 votes cast on the issue Tuesday, according to unofficial results.  The museum's proposed levy, which would have resulted in property tax of $5.11 a year for the owner of a $100,000 home, was approved by 49.42 percent of voters, but was rejected by 50.58 percent. 

 

"We did much better than I had originally thought,'' said Dr. F. Michael Walsh, chairman of the COSI board.  "Unfortunately, we still lost. Now we have to figure out how to handle that.''  Dr. Walsh said the museum along the Maumee River at Summit and Adams streets will "run out of cash at the end of the year. Nothing has changed there.''

 

Full article at http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061109/NEWS16/611090362/-1/NEWS

 

From the 12/27/06 Blade:

 

Donations keep COSI doors open - for now

Turndown of levy put future in doubt

By JENNI LAIDMAN

BLADE STAFF WRITER

 

Donations are keeping COSI Toledo alive.  Officials at the hands-on children’s science museum warned at the start of this year that it would be closed by Sunday without an operating levy, which Lucas County voters narrowly rejected last month.

 

Although the hands-on children’s science museum will end 2006 with a measly $35,000 in its operating budget, contributions amounting to “a couple hundred thousand dollars” from The Anderson Foundation, KeyBank, and others may keep the institution operating long enough to forge a future, said Dr. F. Michael Walsh, chairman of COSI’s executive board.

 

Full article at http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061227/NEWS16/612270425/-1/NEWS

 

Link contains a photo.  From the 3/11/07 Blade:

 

COSI MARKS 10TH ANNIVERSARY

Science center's survival not piece of cake

Officials plan another attempt to get voters to OK tax levy for operations

By JC REINDL and JENNI LAIDMAN

BLADE STAFF WRITERS

 

With explosions of paper confetti and an air blast from a plastic "Airzooka," COSI marked its 10th anniversary in downtown Toledo yesterday with a daylong celebration in which thousands of visitors were admitted for free.  It was the science museum's first free-admission day since its opening in March, 1997.  The riverfront building was bustling with excitement.

 

For many, such as 7-year-old Shein Park, a first grader at Old Orchard Elementary School in West Toledo, it was their first visit.  "That's what we wanted to do," said Anna Colin, COSI's marketing and event coordinator, explaining how the celebration was designed to attract newcomers.

 

Judy Tripp, a physical education teacher who lives in Delta, said she hadn't been to the museum for six years.  She went with five of her youngest relatives and one of her pupils from the Academy of Business and Technology downtown.

 

Full article at http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070311/NEWS34/703110323/-1/RSS

 

Link contains a photo.  From the 7/12/07 Blade:

 

ELECTION 2007

COSI gets panel's support to put levy on the fall ballot

Millage would provide $1.5M, trigger state aid

By JOE VARDON

BLADE STAFF WRITER

 

COSI's fight for its life in Toledo got off to a good start yesterday when the Lucas County Citizens Tax Levy Review Committee voted to recommend the county commissioners place the science museum's five-year, 0.167-mill levy on the November ballot.

 

David Waterman, chairman of COSI-Toledo's board of directors and managing partner of Shumaker, Loop, & Kendrick, said failure to pass a levy this time will result in the closure of the museum's Toledo operation.

 

Not only did an identical COSI levy fail in November, but the tax review committee elected to remain neutral on the museum's levy request in 2006.  The vote not to forward a recommendation for COSI was a first for the committee, which was formed in 2005 based on a suggestion by Commissioner Pete Gerken.

 

Full article at http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070712/NEWS16/707120346/-1/RSS10

 

Shuttered science museum plans fall '09 reopening under new name

By Alex M. Parker, David Patch, Toledo Blade, November 6, 2008

 

With the passage of a 0.17-mill, five-year levy on Tuesday to reopen the science center in downtown Toledo, COSI officials hope that within a year they'll have the museum revamped and ready for visitors - complete with new exhibits and a new name.

 

"The last thing we want to do is to push an opening too early when we're not ready," said David Waterman, chairman of COSI's board.  "We want to have our plan solid, our exhibits in place that will really feature and change the character of the facility. We think the taxpayers deserve it."

 

He said the science center would seek community input for a new name for the science center, and he said selling the naming rights is a possibility.  The name COSI - an acronym for the Center of Science and Industry - is owned by COSI Columbus, and the Toledo facility only had permission to use the name during its levy campaigns, Mr. Waterman said.

 

i am glad its getting the money to reopen, but man....to say that site has been a colossal money pit & disappointment over the years is an understatement.

This is an older Blade article about the opening of Imagination Station, which took over the downtown Portside site from COSI.

 

Imagination Station will open with new look, fresh approach

BY JENNIFER FEEHAN, BLADE STAFF WRITER

Article published October 05, 2009

 

When the first group of schoolchildren walked through the doors of the splashy, new Imagination Station last week, it was the staff who greeted the kids with applause.  "It was just one of those emotional moments - after all we've been through," said Anna Kolin, who worked for the former COSI and has returned as communications and public relations manager for the downtown science center now known as the Imagination Station.

 

The science center has been mothballed for nearly two years because of budget troubles.  With the approval of a five-year, 0.17-mill operating levy last year by Lucas County voters, officials involved with resurrecting the science center say they believe the Imagination Station will have plenty to keep people coming and coming back - a new look, new exhibits, traveling exhibits, and special events.

 

FULL ARTICLE: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091005/NEWS16/910050314

I went to the Imagination Station, not quite the same when you are all grown up lol.  Despite living over an hour away I would always go there with my class for school.