[Njabs-talk] Marksmanship class leads to director's dismissal Article

[EVELYN E. VALDEZ]

file photoChristine Boone

KALAMAZOO - The reinstatement process has begun.

The former director of the Michigan Commission for the Blind Training
Center in Kalamazoo, fired in February, 2010 in a dispute about a
marksmanship class offered to students, said she is "breathless" at
the thought that she will be reinstated to her former position.

Friday afternoon Mario Morrow, director of communications for the
Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth, which oversees
the training center, said via e-mail that "the department has read the
order and has begun the process of reinstatement."

An arbitration hearing on Boone's dismissal was held in January;
earlier this week the decision by the hearing officer was announced
that Christine Boone should get her job back, with back pay and
benefits. The state initially had not commented about that finding.

"I'm breathless. This is news to me," Boone said in response to the news.

"I am thrilled and delighted. I'm just so ready to get back to making
Michigan a much better place for blind people to live and work than it
is today."

Boone was fired after the director of the Michigan Commission for the
Blind in Lansing became upset to learn of a marksmanship class being
offered at the school, a year-round training facility for blind
adults.

In the class, blind students used spring-powered pellet guns to shoot
at targets.



Related stories
Arbitrator rules Boone should get her job back. (May 25, 2011)

Marksmanship class leads to director's dismissal (Feb. 21, 2010)




Boone said she was given verbal consent to offer the class; her boss,
Patrick Cannon, denied that, and said the class violated state safety
and firearms rules.

At the arbitration hearing, the record shows, Cannon argued Boone had
deceived him, intending to use the class to embarrass him.

"I spoke with my lawyer yesterday, I am going to want to have some
conversation to make sure we are all on the same page," Boone said
Friday. "I want to be sure that Mr. Cannon understands there was never
any deception or attempt at such so that I'll be able to do the job,
to make a difference.

Although she hasn't yet hear details of the "process of
reinstatement," Boone said she would begin to clear her calendar of
commitments she made during her 15 months of unemployment, and hopes
to be back at work within a few weeks.










David J. De Notaris | Director
Bureau of Blindness & Visual Services
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
1521 N. 6th Street | Harrisburg, PA 17102
717.783.3784 (P) | 717.772.1629 (F)
ddenotaris at state.pa.us

Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals
with disabilities. Equal Opportunity Employer/Program

The information contained in this email message may be privileged,
confidential, and protected from disclosure. If you are not the
intended recipient, any dissemination, distribution, or copying is
strictly prohibited. If you have received this email message in error,
please reply to the sender.