Long-serving Dumont Board of Education trustee Debra Shanley announced last week that she was resigning from the board.

Shanley, who has been a member of the board since April 1995 and had just completed the first year of her fifth term, cited personal reasons for her resignation.

Schools Superintendent Dr. James Montesano praised Shanley’s years on the school board and said she would be missed.

"Mrs. Shanley has demonstrated the greatest level of community service, and many people do not know that being a school board member is a volunteer position," he said.

"For the past 12 years she has given up two Thursdays a month away from her family along with countless negotiation sessions and school functions."

Montesano said Shanley can step aside from the school board "assured in the knowledge that she is leaving the Dumont schools in a better place than what they were when she began her first term."

"And that level of service, with no other reason than to make sure that the children of Dumont are provided for, speaks directly to her character," he said.

The board of education will now move to appoint a new trustee to take her place and fill her unexpired term. That person will serve the remainder of that term, which is scheduled to end in 2010.

The legal requirements to become a member of the Dumont school board are that an applicant have the ability to read and write, have U.S. citizenship and a one-year residency in Dumont.

He or she must also have no interest in or any contact with, nor claim against the board, not hold office as mayor or as a member of the governing body of Dumont; and not be disqualified as a voter under NJ S. A. 19:4-1.