On Tuesday, October 27 at 10:00 a.m., former First Lady Mrs. Barbara Bush will visit McDougle Elementary School (10410 Kansack Lane, Houston 77086) to participate in the ribbon cutting for the Klein Independent School District’s Reading Express. Well known for her support of literacy, Mrs. Bush is helping the district launch this much needed reading initiative which will bring the joy of books to children who might not otherwise have access to summer reading programs.
The Reading Express is a former Klein ISD school bus that has been transformed into a mobile library that will visit neighborhoods and apartment complexes where students lack transportation to a public library or a school library during the summer.
The idea behind the Reading Express began with the awarding of a $5,000 grant by the Klein Education Foundation to librarians at five Title I schools. As work on the project began, the foundation increased its support to a total of $25,000. Some of those funds come from donations made in memory of Ms. Debra Macomb, a former educator who lived in Klein and who was also a supporter of the Klein Education Foundation. Ms. Macomb passed away in May of 2009.
Tuesday’s program will include the following:
• Ribbon cutting and comments from Mrs. Barbara Bush
• Unveiling and tours of the Reading Express
• Performances by McDougle Elementary School students
• Participation of many local officials, including the Northwest Houston Chamber of Commerce
Mrs. Bush will be available for limited interviews after she tours the Reading Express. While the event is not open to the public due to space limitations, members of the media are encouraged to attend.
The Klein Education Foundation was created in 2001. It has distributed grants to teachers worth $753,347 for curriculum enrichment which cannot be covered by the district’s budget. The foundation has also funded more than $100,000 in professional development opportunities for teachers, staff and administrators. Since its inception, the education foundation has donated close to $1 million that has enhanced the Klein ISD.
