MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2017 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Dearing, Barnett, Fillingane, Frazier, Jackson (32nd), McDaniel, Watson
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE HISTORIC NATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT BY THE STUDENT CHESS PLAYERS FROM THE FRANKLIN COUNTY SCHOOLS.
WHEREAS, Riley Middleton is a third-grade student at Franklin Lower Elementary School. On April 22, 2016, Riley and his mother were part of a caravan headed to Starkville, Mississippi, to the campus of Mississippi State University, along with 61 members of Riley's chess team. They were from Franklin County (population 8000), which lies some 20 miles east of the historic Mississippi River Town of Natchez. Although it was his first tournament, Riley returned to Bude the next day as the undefeated leader (5-0) of the Mississippi State Chess K-3 Championship Team from Franklin County Lower Elementary School; and
WHEREAS, Riley's First Place Trophy is one of many captured by Franklin County players at Mississippi State University that day. Schools from around Mississippi fielded teams of four or more students in an effort to claim State Championships in six categories: K-1, K-3, K-5, K-6, K-8 and K-12. Franklin County was competing there for the first-time ever. At the end of the day, the Chess Tournament Room in Colvard Hall erupted with cheers several times as Franklin County claimed five of the six grade-level State Championships. To top it all, Franklin County Upper Elementary, unleashing a feisty squad of 4th and 5th Graders, won the High School Division, against far more experienced players from schools with long chess traditions; and
WHEREAS, the origin of the student chess program seems appropriate for a Hollywood movie. It certainly has all the elements: a mysterious benefactor, a former inner-city Teacher (Jeff Bulington), who relocates to Small-Town America, and students who develop a sense of self-pride while learning the game. A 100-year-old storefront in Meadville was renovated last year to serve as the Franklin County Chess Center, an after-school practice space for program participants. In 2015, Jeff Bulington was instructing students in chess at Douglass High School in Memphis, when he was contacted by an individual, who has asked to remain anonymous, who told Bulington that he wanted to bring a chess program to Franklin County. After providing several demonstration lessons, Bulington was offered the job. Because his salary is paid by the Southwest Mississippi Chess Foundation, the Franklin County School District does not incur a cost. It is a positive element of the program for students growing up within two hours of New Orleans to know one of the world's finest chess players was from relatively close by" Bulington says. It gives them a sense of ownership of chess tradition. It is important for students to see themselves belonging to a community." That is why Jeff always lets interested students know: "This is for you. This is yours if you want it"; and
WHEREAS, chess, never before formally taught or competitively played in Franklin County, has already impacted the lives of many children, parents and educators in a profound way in these eight months. In January 2016, Bobby Poole retired from the Mississippi-based Cell Phone Company C Spire and became an Assistant Chess Coach, having become enmeshed in the Chess Program right from its inception. Chris Kent, Interim Superintendent of Franklin County Schools and father of Zack Kent, a Fourth Grader who helped lead Franklin County Upper Elementary to the State High School Championship, said: "I am so proud of the entire Franklin County Chess Team. They have proved once again that students from Franklin County can compete with students from anywhere in the country"; and
WHEREAS, former World Champion Susan Polgar, whose introductory chess text lines the windows of the Franklin County Chess Room and can now be found in homes across the county, shared these thoughts: "Congratulations to all the young players in Franklin County for their remarkable success at the State Championships! Their incredible success further proves that when young people are being taught the right way, combined with hard work/dedication, in addition to the support from parents/teachers, success will happen at the highest level. This is just the beginning. I am confident that not only will these young players continue to win on the chess board, chess will help them excel in school and in life"; and
WHEREAS, Leigh Ann Bein, Assistant Principal at Franklin Upper School who was instrumental in creating the chess program in Franklin County Schools, and whose son, Will, plays for the State Champion Middle School Team, says "Students are lured in with wonderful chess stories and kept there with stimulating challenges and logic. Its a fantastic world in our Chess Room"; and
WHEREAS, regarding the Mississippi Team Tournament, Mr. Jeff Bolhuis, Director of the Mississippi State Scholastic Chess Association, stated "The students were very motivated to prepare for their first-ever Team State Championship." Dr. Bulington said "The results of the Tournament are encouraging, but we have a very long way to go." These words are characteristic of Dr. Bulington, whose vision of Franklin County Chess goes beyond Mississippi or even national borders; and
WHEREAS, on Sunday, March 26, 2017, CBS "60 Minutes" featured the Franklin County Chess Program. These students have found peace and proficiency. They have placed in the Top 10 of a National U.S. Chess Federation Tournament and have made excellent scores in state and regional matches; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we commend these students who have brought honor to their school, their community and to the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize the historic national achievement for the student chess players from the Franklin County Schools, and extend our best wishes to these students, their instructors and their families.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the Franklin County Scholastic Chess Team, forwarded to the Franklin County Board of Education, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.