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HISD says focus on Neil Bush's software didn't violate policy
As Barbara Bush spent two hours championing her son's software company
at a Houston middle school Thursday morning, a watchdog group questioned whether
the former first lady should be allowed to channel a donation to Neil Bush's
Ignite Learning company through Houston's Hurricane Katrina relief fund.
"It's strange that the former first lady would want to do this.
If her son's having a rough time of it, couldn't she write him a check?"
said Daniel Borochoff, founder of the American Institute of Philanthropy, a
Chicago-based charity watchdog group. "Maybe she isn't aware that people
could frown upon this."
Some critics said donations to a tax-deductible charitable fund shouldn't benefit
the Bush family. Others questioned whether the Houston Independent School District
violated district policy by allowing the company to host a promotional event
on campus.
HISD officials said the event at Fleming Middle School, where Bush met with
40 educators and business leaders, did not violate policy.
The school is among eight area campuses that received Ignite "Curriculum
On Wheels" systems because of Bush's donation of an undisclosed amount
to the Bush-Clinton Houston Hurricane Relief Fund.
She gave specific instructions that part of the money be sent to the Scottish
Space School Foundation. She asked that group, in turn, to use the money to
buy eight Ignite systems — valued at $3,800 each — for Harris County
schools with large numbers of Hurricane Katrina evacuees, according to Bush
and fund officials.
"I said to George one day: 'Maybe it's sort of selfish of me, but I'd
like to give something that I could see the results of,' " she told the
crowd. "The thing I knew about was the COW."
She said she hopes the donation will encourage other companies and individuals
to give both time and money to public schools strapped by Hurricane Katrina.
Bush said her son's company could not have afforded the donation on its own.
"They gave a lot. They couldn't give more," she said. "They'd
love to give more, but they're a little, small company."
Steve Maislin, president of the Greater Houston Community Foundation, which
is administering the $979,000 relief fund that Bush donated to, said the donation
was made legally and properly.
"Mrs. Bush wanted to support the local hurricane effort," he said.
"She could have done it directly. She chose to do it through here to get
the word out about the fund."
Fleming rolled out the red carpet for Bush. Colorguard members from Wheatley
High School and band members from Kashmere High School performed. Three Hurricane
Katrina evacuees who now attend Fleming spoke about why they enjoy using the
Curriculum on Wheels.
"It makes me laugh," said Bryson Smith, a 15-year-old Fleming student.
"I really do enjoy the COW."
While HISD has a policy that prevents the district and its schools from endorsing
or promoting the "merit of a brand name or trademarked products,"
Houston officials defended the event.
"HISD employees talk about the value of instructional products all the
time. Fleming Middle School thanked former first lady Barbara Bush for helping
provide an instructional program that they found of benefit," deputy press
secretary Adriana Villarreal said. "Students had the learning opportunity
of confidently standing up at a podium, speaking articulately and explaining
to former first lady Barbara Bush what they learned from the instructional program."
Nancy Lomax, a longtime parent activist in HISD, said the district shouldn't
have allowed the event to be held during school hours.
"HISD as a matter of policy does not endorse products. I think they're
getting way off course, their own moral course," she said. "I can
understand that HISD is in an awkward position to accept a gift from a powerful
person, but at the same time to turn it around and make it a dog and pony show
is disgusting."
Ignite, which currently says it does businesses with 81 districts in 13 states,
has been under scrutiny since its inception in 1999. Reports show that the company
received funding from foreign oil sources, computer magnates and friends of
the Republican family. The Austin-based company got its foot in the door in
HISD in 2003, when Neil Bush and the HISD Foundation agreed to raise $115,000
in private donations to foot half of the bill for the software.
Susan Ohanian, a former public school teacher and Vermont-based author who
tracks educational issues, said she was stunned by Bush's donation.
"The public has a very hard time understanding that some money is not
worth it," she said. "I've never heard of anything like this so blatant:
Pull at your heart strings with Katrina victims and then make sure your son
profits from it."
An HISD-funded external evaluation of Ignite Learning in 2004 found that teachers
gave an older version of the product generally positive marks.
"Teachers also found it to be effective in improving student understanding
of history, engaging students in the learning process, and to a lesser degree,
helping students pass the (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills),"
the study said.
It's currently used on 15 HISD campuses, officials said.
Teachers raved about the software Thursday. The purple machine displays science
and history lessons to the class through a projector. They touted its graphics
and music.
"It enhances learning. It excites the children," said Kathie Guillory,
chairwoman of Fleming's science department. "They grasp more, and they
retain it longer."
Officials at Fleming and other area schools said they plan to buy more COW
units.
"I'm doing everything I can to get them in every class in our district,"
said Brett Schiewer, a science specialist in the Katy school district.
Schiewer said he understands some of the concerns about the donation.
"That was one of my thoughts, but, truly a quality product speaks for
itself," he said. "It still benefits kids, which is why we are here."
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Neil Bush's Investors
By Paul Kiel
Muckraker.com
