Ohio college admits mistake in firing

CLEVELAND (AP) — Administrators at a northeastern Ohio community college said they made a mistake in refusing to rehire a student ambassador because she had a 16-year-old felony conviction on her record.

The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer reports that Cuyahoga Community College leaders admitted the mistake Monday and offered Marcia Graciani a job on campus. But the 38-year-old mother of three says she won’t accept it.

In July the college refused to renew Graciani as a $9-an-hour student ambassador because a background check turned up a 1996 conviction for aggravated assault.

The decision drew harsh criticism from two Cleveland councilmen and others who advocate hiring rehabilitated ex-felons.

Craig Foltin, the college’s executive vice president of administration and finance, said procedures will be re-evaluated as a result of the matter.