Dewey, Mariano Resignations Accepted at School Board Meeting

NEWTOWN SQUARE–The resignation rumors of two Marple Newtown School Board members were confirmed at Tuesday night's school board meeting. In the agenda addendum, two motions were added to accept the resignations of Fred Dewey and Jamie Mariano as Marple Newtown school directors.

Dewey's resignation is effective Jan. 31, while Mariano's resignation is effective Feb. 13. 

Newly elected School Board President Kathryn Chandless shared she wished both school board members would reconsider their decision but thanked them for their service. 

Dewey announced that he will be moving out of the Marple Newtown School District and, by law, will have to resign from serving on the school board. Dewey thanked the Board, the administration, the teachers, the students, the taxpayers, and the parents.

"It's been a pleasure to be up here and to serve this community," addressed Dewey to the public. "I've learned quite a lot sitting up here and I hope I've made a positive contribution. As you see, you're in very good hands but if you disagree there are going to be two open positions that need people appointed up here. And, of course, there is an election coming up."

Mariano told Marple Newtown Patch after the meeting that although there were some external factors that brought her decision to resign, one of the major factors in her decision was the time commitment.

"One of my main reasons was for my family. I have a 16-month-old, a 4-year-old, and a 7-year-old. Now that I see them involved in all these activities, I'm being pulled in different directions," said Mariano. "I think the Board and the community deserves someone who gives 100 percent. It was just easier for me to part ways now."

Mariano said if it were a different time, she would consider running again but "not in the near future."

"I loved being a part of this," said Mariano about serving on the Board, who was elected in 2011. 

Mariano said one of her favorite times on the Board was working on the Marple Netown High School landscaping project, where she coordinated with Mostardi's Nursery and Rick Ray, of the Marple Tree Commission, and Mike Dumin, MNSD Facilities and Transportation director. 

"It was awesome working with them. I can't wait until the sprng to see all these trees and flowers bloom," said Mariano.

This year's election will call for the following open seats: three, full-term positions with no incumbents running (Nancy Galbraith, David McGinley, and John McDevitt); two, full-term positions with two incumbents running (Chandless and Jim Lanzalotto), and now two, partial-term positions (Dewey and Mariano).