A West Chester principal who resigned last week is facing a law enforcement investigation
“We understand that this news may come as a surprise,” West Chester Superintendent David Christopher said. He was “unable to provide additional details due to the nature of personnel matters.”
The principal of Rustin High School in the West Chester Area School District resigned last week, and district officials say he is facing a law enforcement investigation.
Michael Marano resigned on Dec. 13, according to the district, and the West Chester school board accepted his resignation Thursday without any comment. A district spokesperson did not comment on the reason for Marano’s departure, but said, “there is a law enforcement investigation involving the former principal.”
Marano was principal at Rustin for more than 10 years. The Inquirer reported in 2014 that Marano, a former assistant principal at Strath Haven High School in the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District, was selected to lead Rustin from a national pool of 28 candidates.
In a letter sent to Rustin families on Monday, West Chester Superintendent David Christopher said that Marano “has made the decision to resign from his position.”
“We understand that this news may come as a surprise,” Christopher said, adding that the district was “unable to provide additional details due to the nature of personnel matters.”
On Wednesday, Christopher sent another message to families, noting that following Marano’s departure, “local law enforcement is involved and is on site today speaking with individual members of the Rustin school community. We are fully cooperating with law enforcement and will share more information when we are able.”
“We are aware that rumors may be circulating, and we recognize the concern this situation creates,” Christopher said. “We ask for your patience as we work through the investigation.”
A statement from Chester County District Attorney Christopher L. de Barrena-Sarobe said his office was “aware of a Westtown-East Goshen Police presence at Rustin High School recently. It would be inappropriate to confirm or deny whether that presence has amounted to a criminal investigation at this time. That said, I want to reiterate that we take the care and safety of teachers and students extremely seriously and, as always, will support the Westtown-East Goshen Regional Police Department as needed.”
The board has appointed Cliff Beaver as interim principal.