THOMASTON, Ga. — Two important committees of the Georgia High School Association will hold their summer meetings on Wednesday, with several important topics on the agenda.
The Board of Trustees Committee will meet at 8:30 a.m. and the Reclassification Committee will follow at 10 a.m.
The Board of Trustees will look at start/end date changes specifically for basketball, baseball, soccer, and track and field. However, the key agenda item will look at a proposed revision related to GHSA by-law 1.60 and the school service areas/transfer/migrant students/migratory waiver (see box below:)
- 1.62 A transfer student who has established eligibility at a former school in grades 9-12 shall be ineligible at the new school for 365 days from the date of transfer unless the following criteria are met:
- a) The student moved simultaneously with the entire family unit, and all other persons he/she lived with at the former residence, and that residential unit moved into the service area of the new school with simultaneous enrollment of the student in the new school. This is known as a “bona fide move.” (NOTE: A move within the same service area does not constitute a bona fide move.)
- b) It must be apparent that the parent(s) and all the persons residing with the student and the student have relinquished the residence in the former service area and have moved to a residence in the new service area with the intention that the move be permanent.
- c) Determination of what constitutes a bona fide change of residency and with the intent that it be permanent depends on the circumstances of each case. The GHSA will consider all relevant facts and circumstances in making that determination. Confirmation of the following factors, although not conclusive, MUST be provided as evidence of relinquishment of the former residence:
- 1. All licensed drivers in the household must comply with the Georgia DMV change of address policy and schools must provide copies of updated driver’s licenses with the new address.
- 2. The former residence must be vacated, all unnecessary utilities terminated and all household goods and furniture must be either moved to the new residence or stored (except as may be necessary to ready the residence for sale).
- 3. The former residence must not be used or occupied by any member of the family unit.
- 4. The residence, if owned, must either be sold or listed for sale. If the former residence was leased by the family unit, the lease must be cancelled. Copies of any applicable listing agreement, deed, contract for sale, or lease cancellation must be provided.
- 5. Change of address notification must be made to all employers, appropriate governmental agencies and creditors.
