The Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Bush brother's firm benefiting
Sunday Oct. 22, 2006
By WALTER F. ROCHE JR.
Los Angeles Times
NEIL BUSH WASHINGTON --
A Texas company headed by one of President Bush's brothers and partly owned by his parents is benefiting from Republican connections and federal dollars targeted for economically disadvantaged students under the No Child Left Behind Act.
With investments from his parents, former President George H.W. and Barbara Bush, and other backers, Neil Bush's company, Ignite! Learning, has placed its products in 40 U.S. school districts and plans to market internationally.
At least 13 U.S. districts have used federal funds available through the president's signature education overhaul, the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, to buy Ignite's portable learning centers at $3,800 each.
The law provides federal funds to help school districts better serve disadvantaged students and improve their performance, especially in reading and math.
But Ignite does not offer reading instruction, and its math program is not available until next year.
The federal Education Department does not monitor individual school district expenditures under the No Child program but sets guidelines the states are expected to enforce, said spokesman Chad Colby.
Ignite executive Tom Deliganis said, "Some districts seem to feel OK [about using No Child money for the Ignite purchases], and others do not."
Neil Bush said in an e-mail to the Los Angeles Times that political influence had not played a role in Ignite's rapid growth. "As our business matures in the USA we have plans to expand overseas and to work with many distinguished individuals in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa," he wrote. "Not one of these associates by the way has ever asked for any access to either of my political brothers, not one White House tour, not one autographed photo, and not one Lincoln bedroom overnight stay."
Interviews and a review of school district documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act found that educators and legal experts were sharply divided over whether Ignite's products are worth their cost or qualified under the No Child law.
Known as COW, for Curriculum on Wheels (the portable learning centers resemble cows on wheels), Ignite's product line is geared toward middle school social studies, history and science.
Most of Ignite's business has been obtained through sole-source contracts without competitive bidding. Neil Bush has been directly involved in marketing the product.
In addition to federal or state funds, foundations and corporations have helped buy Ignite products.
Ignite was formed in Austin in 1999. Bush's parents became investors in 1999, according to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission documents.
Barbara Bush has supported Ignite enthusiastically.
The former first lady spurred controversy recently when she contributed to a Hurricane Katrina relief foundation for storm victims who had relocated to Texas.
Her donation carried one stipulation: It had to be used by local schools for purchases of the Ignite products.
Texas accounts for 75 percent of Ignite's business, which is expanding rapidly in other states, Deliganis said.
In Texas, 30 school districts use the products.
In Houston, where Neil Bush and his parents live, the district has used various funding sources to acquire $400,000 in Ignite products. An additional $240,000 in purchases has been authorized in the last six months.
Some people in Houston's schools question the expenditures, however. Jon Dansby was teaching at Houston's Fleming Middle School when Ignite products arrived.
"You can't even get basics like paper and scissors, and we went out and bought them. I just see red," he said.
In Las Vegas, the schools have approved more than $300,000 in Ignite purchases.
Sources said pressure to buy Ignite products came from Sig Rogich, who is prominent in the community and is a Republican who raised more than $200,000 for President Bush's 2004 re-election campaign.
How the rich get richer and how the evil keep prospering. :bad: