MCBAIN, MI -- A consultant helping a rural Northern Michigan school district with its superintendent search apologized for suggesting that candidates have "a strong Christian background and philosophy" and has removed the criteria from the job description.

Scott Crosby, the regional president of the Michigan Leadership Institute for West Central Michigan, responded to the American Civil Liberties Union's request to remove any reference to religion from a McBain Rural Agricultural Schools' job posting.

Related: ACLU demands removal of 'Christian' philosophy from school superintendent hunt

Crosby admitted that the wording was "poor judgment" on his part, not the school board. The religious reference was not meant to discriminate, but was intended to reflect the area's "close-knit and conservative" beliefs, he said.

"There are other ways to reflect that," Crosby said in an interview. "Clearly, it was not intended to discriminate in any way, shape or form."

Crosby responded to state ACLU leaders on Tuesday, March 3, the same day the group wrote a letter to the district and the search firm urging the district to remove the religious requirement, saying it violates multiple federal and state laws against discrimination.

Dan Korobkin, the ACLU of Michigan deputy legal director, wrote that there is no principle more fundamental to public education than to remove religious or ethnic background requirements.

"Our Constitution wisely requires public schools to remain neutral in matters of religion," he wrote. "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."

Crosby said the school district is a "welcoming, inclusive environment where all backgrounds are respected." Crosby spent 33 years in education, including 11 years as superintendent in two districts before retiring.

"There was clearly no intent to favor one religion over another, or religion over non-religion, and students and teachers are made to feel like they all belong vs. made to feel like 'they do not belong' in McBain from my personal experience," he wrote in an email to the ACLU. "As the person responsible for this posting, I apologize to your organization and to any individual who feels that our language was discriminatory in any way. There was no mention of preference, favoritism, or this being a requirement in reviewing this document."

Marc Allen, an ACLU attorney, valued the quick action by the search firm and the district.

"We appreciate them taking our letter seriously and responding promptly," Allen said.

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