PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The lone Republican on the five-member panel running Philadelphia's public schools is stepping down.

David Girard-diCarlo (in file photo above) has resigned from the School Reform Commission, effective immediately.

In announcing the move, SRC chair Robert Archie said Girard-diCarlo indicated he would be spending a good deal of time outside of Pennsylvania and felt the need to step down.

Girard-diCarlo, 68, was appointed to the SRC by Governor Ed Rendell.  He had served on the SRC since October of 2009.  He is a former US ambassador to Austria and a member of the law firm of Cozen O'Connor.

It will be up to Governor Tom Corbett to nominate a replacement for Girard-diCarlo.

Girard-diCarlo did not attend today's public SRC meeting.

Reported by Mike DeNardo, KYW Newsradio 1060.