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After investigating, police aren’t bringing charges against former West Chester principal

Police said they had reviewed “information provided by the West Chester Area School District (WCASD) involving Rustin High School after the resignation of the principal,” Michael Marano.

Starting Monday, visitors at the West Chester Area School District's 16 schools, including Bayard Rustin High School, should plan to spend a little more time for a security check at the front desk.
Starting Monday, visitors at the West Chester Area School District's 16 schools, including Bayard Rustin High School, should plan to spend a little more time for a security check at the front desk.Read more

The Westtown East Goshen Regional Police Department won’t bring charges against a former West Chester principal who resigned last month, saying they didn’t find that any crimes occurred.

In a statement earlier this week, the police said they had reviewed “information provided by the West Chester Area School District (WCASD) involving Rustin High School after the resignation of the principal,” Michael Marano.

“No criminal activity was found, and the matter is closed,” the police said in the statement. Reached by phone, an officer declined to comment, directing further questions to the school district.

A district spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment.

The district has not said what prompted the police investigation or Marano’s resignation, which took place on Dec. 13. Marano, who had led Rustin for 11 years, “made the decision to resign from his position,” West Chester Superintendent David Christopher said in a message to Rustin families on Dec. 16. Christopher said that “this news may come as a surprise,” and said the district was “unable to provide additional details due to the nature of personnel matters.”

In another message to families two days later, Christopher said that following Marano’s resignation, “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,” Christopher said. “We are aware that rumors may be circulating, and we recognize the concern this situation creates. We ask for your patience as we work through the investigation.”

Marano could not be reached by phone this week. The former principal worked as assistant principal at Strath Haven High School in the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District before winning the job at Rustin in 2014.

The West Chester school board last month voted to accept Marano’s resignation without comment, and appointed Cliff Beaver, a retired principal from Unionville-Chadds Ford, as interim principal.