UPDATE: 'Christian' philosophy removed from school job ad, apology offered after ACLU complaint

MCBAIN, MI -- McBain Rural Agricultural Schools' search for a new superintendent who has "a strong Christian background and philosophy" is under scrutiny from the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan.

State ACLU leaders wrote a letter to the district on Tuesday, March 3, urging the district remove any reference to religion, saying the requirement violates multiple federal and state laws against discrimination

"There is no principle more fundamental to American public education than the requirement that schools be welcoming of all students, employees and administrators regardless of religious or ethnic background," Dan Korobkin, ACLU of Michigan deputy legal director wrote. "Our Constitution wisely requires public schools to remain neutral in matters of religion. When a school favors one religion over another, or religion over non-religion, students and teachers who do not subscribe to the favored religion are made to feel like they do not belong."

Korobkin, Steve Morse, chairman of the Northwestern Michigan ACLU Lawyers Committee and Marc Allen, ACLU of Michigan attorney, wrote the letter to McBain School Board President Chad Brunink, as well as Scott Crosby and Michael Wilmot of the Michigan Leadership Institute. The district is in between Cadillac and Lake City.

In the letter, Korobkin, Morse and Allen noted that that the ACLU received a complaint about the superintendent job description last week. The position, which is available online, has been posted on the website for the Michigan Elementary and Middle Schools Principals Association since mid-February. The district's current superintendent, Michael Harris, will retire in June, according to the district's office.

Harris was not immediately available for comment Tuesday.

The ACLU letter also expressed concern that the district had posted the listing even though the board reviewed the job description beforehand and the district is working with a professional search firm to hire its next superintendent.

"Even if it was a mistake, however, we are distressed by how many administrators and staff must have read the job announcement without thinking it was wrong or demanding that it be changed," the letter states. "Moreover, we wonder how many excellent candidates who are Muslim, Jewish or not religious read the job description and decided not to apply because they believed they were not wanted."

Korobkin said the ACLU is waiting for the district's response.

"We're pretty confident that they'll review it and realize they need to make a change," he said in a phone interview with MLive and the Grand Rapids Press on Tuesday morning.

The ACLU notes in the letter that there is nothing against the district hiring a leader who is religious, but that those beliefs cannot the the basis for a hiring decision.

"Candidates of any religious background, or no religious background, must be welcome to apply and must be given full and equal consideration for the position," the group wrote.

Kyle Moroney covers suburban schools and general assignments for MLive/Grand Rapids Press. Email her at kmoroney@mlive.com or follow her on Twitter or Facebook