Wednesday, May 19, 2004

Gov. Perdue signs HOPE at Flat Rock M.S. By JOHN MUNFORD jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com Frank Humphries, an eighth-grader at Flat Rock Middle School in Tyrone, took an interest in government earlier this year, researching legislation to help protect the HOPE scholarship, which was slated to run out of funds by 2007. His interest was rewarded with a special visit to the school Monday by Gov. Sonny Perdue, who signed a new state law that maintain the program through 2010. Monday morning, Flat Rock students watched in the school’s gym as Perdue signed a bill to make changes to preserve HOPE scholarships. “Students, I apologize for getting y’all out of class,” Perdue cracked. “I know you really hate that.” Perdue said the changes will make sure the HOPE scholarship is intact for Flat Rock students and their brothers and sisters. The bill puts in new checks and balances to make sure students can’t drop classes and still qualify for HOPE, “essentially gaming the system,” Perdue said. After his brief address to the students, Perdue signed the actual bill into law. He also noted that Humphries’ bill to save HOPE was passed unanimously by students at Flat Rock. That showed how the students care about making sure the program is available in the future, Perdue added. Perdue also credited Humphries’ mother, Valerie, for being “the model of an involved parent.” After signing the bill, Perdue handed the pen he used to Humphries as a keepsake. Humphries said after he sent the e-mail with his HOPE suggestions, he expected to get a small response from the governor’s office. “I didn’t know it was going to go this far,” Humphries added. Humphries, 14, said he was surprised how many loopholes there were for students to achieve and keep their qualification for the HOPE scholarship. The eighth grader suggested the state should limit HOPE scholarships to students who graduate from Georgia high schools. Under current guidelines, students can establish residency in Georgia and then qualify for HOPE, Humphries said. Officials said the bill signed by Perdue protects HOPE through 2010 by: • Capping fee payments at the amount paid Jan. 1 of this year. Future increases must be covered by students; • All full-time students must undergo a new spring review to determine whether they have maintained a B average; • When the year-end HOPE fund balance falls below the previous fiscal year, book fees will be reduced to $150; the second time that happens, book fees will be eliminated; the third time that occurs, student fees will be eliminated.