School Conservator's Remark In Firing Principal Did Not Violate Establishment Clause

In Brown v. North Panola School District, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 76419 (ND MS, July 28, 2010), the former principal of Como Elementary School in Como, Mississippi challenged on various First Amendment and other grounds her firing by a state Conservator who was appointed to take over the low-performing school district that included the school. The court rejected the argument that a comment the Conservator made when informing plaintiff of her non-renewal as principal violated the Establishment Clause.  The Conservator told plaintiff: "when God moves someone from one place, doors are opened in others and some things happen for the good." The court concluded that this "stray remark" did not amount to the state endorsing the Conservator's religious views.