Woodland Hills Superintendent James Harris said there were several racially insensitive moments directed . Castagna has not responded. 412.731.1300 ext. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here so far and will continue to partner with our districts talented staff and dedicated community.. West Mifflin officials could not immediately be reached for comment. As many speakers after her also did, Moon made reference to Castagna's Google search results, which yielded his termination from West Mifflin, among several alleged claims that gave Woodland Hills families cause for concern. Athletics (opens in new window/tab) Buildings and Grounds; Business and Finance; Curriculum; Personnel . "We have many wonderful teachers. He joined the call on zoom. pageId: 726593, // Page : Woodland_Hills/ros Before the vote, school board members gave comments about Castagna, which caused conflict between some and caused disruption and shouting out from the public. When [High School Principal Phillip] Woods got here, he said that hes going to keep control of the building, and hell call [the police] when necessary. And now, we realize we dont need any. Superintendents Message . The former West Mifflin superintendent who was fired after his second DUI case has been hired by the Woodland Hills School District. Covid guidelines and mandates have been controversial during the pandemic, but Woodland Hills' covid procedures and requirements regarding distancing and mask-wearing are strict. This follows a recent study by the Black Girls Equity Alliance noted that school police is the largest source of referrals for Black girls in Allegheny County and has an outsized role in criminalizing Black youth. The contact is for one year or until a new superintendent is hired, according to school board documents. A statement from the board said that it would begin a search for a new leader immediately. ONLY ON 11: We were there as students from Woodland Hills, Penn Hills & Clairton traveled to Harrisburg to talk gun violence.Hear the personal impacts and desire for change from those teens on @WPXI at 6:15pm. Q: How long did Woodland Hills not have school police prior to shutting down because of COVID-19 in March? Woodland Hills senior Desmon Jackson said whatever the intent was, it was hurtful. I am here to help that happen. I implore you not to hire the candidate for the interim position of superintendent. Last year, pre-COVID, we were down about 70% in our incidences. (Photo by Jay Manning/PublicSource), advocates and protestors called for removal of police from the. He was set to be arraigned later that month on DUI charges stemming from an incident in Beaver County three months earlier. West Mifflin schools fired Castagna in 2019 after his second DUI case. Many pointed to Castagna having been charged with driving under the influence three separate times. The Woodland Hills School District has officially appointed Dr. Daniel Castagna as the district's new superintendent. PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The former West Mifflin superintendent who was fired after his second DUI case has been appointed acting superintendent by the Woodland Hills School District. . Teresa M. Hawthorne Executive Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent Email: hawtte@whsd.us Phone: 412-731-1300 x0183 FAX: 412-679-1621 . I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here so far and will continue to partner with our districts talented staff and dedicated community. Castagna's appointment carries a term of one year or until the district hires a new superintendent. Many of those at the meeting questioned why the district did not promote for the position from within, being that the district has two people in administrative roles, Dawn Golden and Dr. Jean Livingston, both of whom have their superintendent letters from the department of education. My family is very strong and stuck together, and I dont want to see that fall apart due to gun violence, said Xavier Weisenz, a Woodland Hills freshman. This spacious zippered tote with a design by local artist Andrea Shockling represents different Pittsburghers walks of life, just like we strive for our nonprofit newsrooms journalism to do. Woodland Hills is a very special place, and I am proud to be a part of this family, Castagna said. Several community members said to the board that the decision to vote came up so quickly, so they wanted to know the facts and continue the conversation. As the Sto-Rox School District enters its second year of state-mandated financial recovery, district leaders want to hear what the public thinks the schools could do better. A legal fight could cause a delay and leave the matter to the new school board members, who take their seats in January. Please enter valid email address to continue. Theres a lot of professional folks in that building who helped create a better environment. If one cannot be trusted to take the health department orders seriously within their own establishment stands to reason that another way in which Castagna may not be the best role model to children is in regards to following covid procedures. email: castda@whsd.net Once again, you and I are walking in the hallway and you smack me on the back of the neck pretty hard Well, that could be construed as assault. Now inspired by the journey, these kids hope to use this experience to make a change back in their own communities. 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While there were multiple speakers both at the meeting and via Zoom who offered support and criticism of Harris during the 2021 meeting, last Friday's meeting regarding Castagna did not have a single non-school board person from the district commenting in favor of his employment. He had been charged with a DUI in 2008 and in 2019. So, it was a gradual approach to removal. West Mifflin School District was ordered to pay the former superintendent $2.9 million after a federal judge ruled that his First Amendment rights were violated. You would be placing someone that many people in the community don't trust. The districts superintendent believes its changed the school environment for the better, though he notes that its crucial not just to remove police, but also to increase student and staff supports. Just having a stabler, calmer environment; we had less blow-ups between students and staff. Earlier on Wednesday, Harris told KDKA that he was completely blindsided when the board president, vice president and solicitor asked him to resign on Tuesday. Many teachers, and I'll say many of the board members, have been that to my children and to the children of the district. They need to feel like they have a voice and that they are being listened to. Harris had been an administrator since 2018, and the school board did not give a reason for his firing. The average Job Superintendent salary in Woodland Hills, CA is $80,488 as of March 28, 2023, but the salary range typically falls between $67,946 and $92,869. Board members did not say what prompted the termination. Woodland Hills four-year graduation rate in the 2014-15 school year was just above 80 percent. Woodland Hills Superintendent Alan Johnson told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "Mr. Hollis is taking a couple of isolated incidents and turning them into a pattern that does not exist. Earlier in the day on Wednesday, Harris told KDKA that he believes the vote is illegal because there was no proper notice or a scheduled hearing. "But I am also a foster mom, mother, and child care educator for the past 18 years. Hed previously been charged with driving under the influence in 2008, and he was later charged again in August 2019. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Suspended superintendent accused of knowingly hiring man being investigated for murder. "That action often gave the impression that we were downplaying the severity of the incident," the letter states. "We have made a commitment to provide a wide range of support systems to our students," Woodland Hills Superintendent Dr. Daniel Castagna said. In the early 2000s, Woodland Hills was losing about 400 kids a year to charter schools. A lot of people in the community are upset about it. The school district announced on May 25 that Castagna would officially be head of the district from May 26, 2022, to May 25, 2027. We cannot and will not stand for it. It was . The board reorganization meeting is Dec. 6. Ive had a friend thats been shot multiple times and family members who have been shot and killed, said Kyaire Brown-Hatcher, a senior at Penn Hills High School. This realization helped lead the district into phasing out police presence in their school. During the process, Dr. Castagna earned the support of the majority of the board," board member Carlton Scott said in a district-issued release. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Harris: You have to go building by building, and you have to empower the building leadership to make decisions. The police dont do that, and you hear police complain; theyre being called out to intervene in situations where they shouldnt be the ones doing it. Castagna has served as the acting superintendent since Jan. 28. What we did not want to have continue to happen was the criminalization of adolescent behavior. Woodland Hills Superintendent Alan Johnson said the school district conducted an internal investigation "focused only on whether any school district personnel were directly involved" in last . Do you need that data to understand the problems, or were you just able to take action? Thats how I can tell you when were down about 70% of our write-ups, meaning incidences where a teacher says that the student did something an infraction. Castagnas firing from his West Mifflin post came after a series of hearings throughout 2018 under a law that allows for superintendents and assistant superintendents to have their contracts terminated with a school board vote for neglect of duty, incompetency, or immorality.. He can be reached at kellen@publicsource.org. Woodland Hills Superintendent Alan Johnson said the school district conducted an internal investigation "focused only on whether any school district personnel were directly involved" in last month . The jury late last week ruled in favor of Castagna, now acting superintendent at Woodland Hills, on all but one of the claims he laid out against the district in a lawsuit filed in 2019. Harris told KDKA before the meeting that he plans to fight the decision. Woodland Hills Foundation (opens in new window/tab) 23-24 School Calendar; Superintendent's Office . "There are currently five board members who . The Woodland Hills school board abruptly fired its superintendent Wednesday night. 50 years ago this month, we exposed a state institution. / CBS Pittsburgh. 2550 Greensburg Pike, Pittsburgh, PA 15218. You bring in experts, you bring in an architect, you bring in an engineer, you bring in the city inspector to the building inspector to look at that and make sure that all the supports are right before you take that beam away, and thats what we did. The Woodland Hills School District has officially appointed Dr. Daniel Castagna as thedistricts new superintendent. We thank Mr. Harris for his service as the district superintendent and will work with him to ensure a smooth transition.. It includes an update on action items from recent meetings with parents and high school students, details on recently completed and ongoing security improvements at all of our buildings, and much more. As communities grapple with the role of policing on their streets, youth advocates and educators are also considering and sometimes fiercely debating whether police should have a presence in schools. He was suspended from the position after he was accused of knowingly hiring a man who was under investigation for murder as one of the schools security guards. Do you feel more informed? How do you feel this change can be scaled or replicated for other districts who may have fewer resources or a larger population, like PPS, with an enrollment of 6,263 grades 9-12? He . formatId: 34956, // Format : IAB Leaderboard 728x90 Thats the key to removing the police. Harris: When I first got here, we started collecting our write-ups, or incident referrals. The students listened to their own local leaders testify, including Woodland Hills Superintendent Daniel Castagna and Aliquippa Mayor Dwan Walker. 2023 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved, Police investigating fatal McKeesport shooting, 2 people sought after Braddock Hills KFC robbery, Visit the 5 major attractions in Washington County celebrating milestone anniversaries this year, Woman dead after rollover crash in Churchill, Fire at Ross Township Chili's diverts customers, workers to restaurant's other sites, Met Gala fashion: Bndchen, Dua Lipa, Campbell on vintage train, TV Talk: Frank Nicotero hosts Very Local game show on the streets of Pittsburgh, Aerosmith's farewell tour visits Pittsburgh in September, Pittsburgh Pop podcast: Talking Mulaneys Baby J on Netflix, Aerosmith returning to Pittsburgh one last time, Western Pennsylvania's trusted news source. Q: How do you work to get beyond the belief some people have that students need police in schools? I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here so far and will continue to partner with our districts talented staff and dedicated community. "Mr. Harris has consistently lied to us, to the media, to our parents, to our students, to our teachers. We still have our counselors, our behavioral interventionists and a great leadership staff in the building. School board member elects Darnika Reed and Carlton Scott both said during public comment that they thought the board should table the vote until they were sworn in. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: West Mifflin School District to pay former superintendent $2.9 million, Texas school shooting live updates: All victims were in same classroom Lockdown lifted at 4 Pittsburgh Public Schools after reports of shots fired near Westinghouse 6-12 Police, EMS on scene for incident in Smith Township VIDEO: Target 11 warning shoppers after more skimming devices are discovered DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts, Texas school shooting live updates: All victims were in same classroom, Lockdown lifted at 4 Pittsburgh Public Schools after reports of shots fired near Westinghouse 6-12, Police, EMS on scene for incident in Smith Township, VIDEO: Target 11 warning shoppers after more skimming devices are discovered, DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts. ", Prior to being fired from West Mifflin, Castagna was an assistant principal in the Baldwin-Whitehall School District from 2005 to 2007 and a teacher in the Hopewell Area School District from 1999 to 2005. JAMES P. HARRIS JR., the new superintendent of the Woodland Hills School District, fields questions from reporters after being sworn-in, Aug. NORTH BRADDOCK, Pa. (KDKA) -- The Woodland Hills school board has voted to terminate its superintendent. Help us inform people in the Pittsburgh region with more stories like this support our nonprofit newsroom with a donation. "That was never the intent. How can these other districts replicate this given their own circumstances? While they were still identified as police, this would be the beginning of a culture shift when it came to policing at Woodland Hills. Jul 2018 - Jul 20213 years 1 month. Woodland Hills school officials have made Acting Superintendent Daniel Castagnas position permanent, voting to confirm his appointment at a special meeting Wednesday night that also included the resignation of two school board members. Woodland Hills School District is a public school district located in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, serving twelve municipalities in the Pittsburgh area; Braddock, Braddock Hills, Chalfant, Churchill, East Pittsburgh, Edgewood, Forest Hills, North Braddock, Rankin, Swissvale, Turtle Creek and Wilkins Township (except for a small portion). 0183. Harris: The phased-out approach it showed not having a need. Strategic Plan Midpoint - Professional Education. First published on November 17, 2021 / 8:50 PM. We have a great faculty in place and the students in our district are capable of delivering great things. The officers prior to us getting here would be involved in the day-to-day happenings with what was going on with the students. Woodland Hills School District. Harris: Its less tense. Castagna . When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. Q: How are challenges addressed and solved now? Castagna later sued the school district after they released a list of grievances againsthim. It was the last meeting for three board members. Select Accept to consent or Reject to decline non-essential cookies for this use. The Woodland Hills school board voted 5-4 after a contentious meeting in late January to hire Castagna as acting superintendent, at which many members of the public, and some on the school board, expressed opposition to hiring Castagna. During the process, Dr. Castagna earned the support of the majority of the board," said Scott. When I look at Dr. Livingston, the principal when my first son started [and] is now 21, she's amazing, and she's still here." This position is a position of public trust. TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox. The district is holding a town hall meeting Monday at 6 p.m. at Focus on Renewal in McKees Rocks. Your vote tonight will be reflected in your record, and we will note it when you are up for election again.". "I could not find any evidence that Dr. Castagna had been active in the field of education in the last three years. email: hawtte@whsd.net Castagna was fired by West Mifflin school officials in 2019, and this past March, a federal jury ordered the district to pay him nearly $3 million the result of a lawsuit in which he accused the district of violating his First Amendment rights to political affiliation and free speech, violating the states whistleblower law and breaching its contract with him. The Woodland Hills School District Welcomes Dr. Daniel Castagna as Interim Superintendent. As the General Manager and Superintendent, I lead all aspects of operations with a . The district serves 12 municipalities east of Pittsburgh and enrolls about 3,300 students. If we could do more things like this and have the community wrap around us and this problem. The School Board, staff and communitys belief in me is something I will never take for granted. The article begins, "The new superintendent for Woodland Hills School District says he significantly raised test scores and closed the achievement gap between black and white students at a suburban . "We're trying to . Very rarely were they ever called, so the officers sat in the office all day. Both voted against Castagnas appointment as acting superintendent in January, along with board president Mike Belmonte and Lawson. NORTH BRADDOCK, Pa. The Woodland Hills School District has officially appointed Dr. Daniel Castagna as thedistricts new superintendent. That being said, recalling a board of education member is no easy task and is not a situation there are many precedents for in the state of PA. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession. "I look forward to working with the school board, administrators, teachers, staff, students, and families so that together we can achieve excellence on every level. Jurors found the district guilty of violating Castagnas First Amendments rights of political affiliation and free speech, violating the Pennsylvania Whistleblower Law and breaching its contract with Castagna. The school district announced on May 25 that Castagna would officially be head of the district from May 26, 2022, to May 25, 2027. Sarah Schneider is WESA's education reporter. The agreements were approved by the Woodland Hills School District Board of School Directors during their legislative meeting on January 18, 2023. Its detrimental. Castagna was hired by the district in 2007 and served as superintendent from 2011 through 2018. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Superintendent James Harris of the Woodland Hills School District. Students, parents, coaches and community leaders shared their opinions with the board. Former school resource officer Stephen Shaulis was accused of excessive force for knocking out the tooth of a 14-year-old, among other incidents. I come to you tonight concerned that the board is only going to add to this image problem by bringing in Dr. Dan Castagna to lead our district." NORTH BRADDOCK, Pa. (KDKA) -- The Woodland Hills school board has voted to terminate its superintendent. "During the course of our search for an acting superintendent, we had the opportunity to speak with both internal and external candidates. Neither Scott nor Currie could be immediately reached for comment. The concept of voting out or recalling the board members who vote yes on Castagna was mentioned multiple times during the meeting. Woodland Hills School District officials voted 8-1 in November 2021 to terminate the contract of Superintendent James Harris effective December 17. 0183 The Woodland Hills School District Welcomes Dr. Daniel Castagna as Interim Superintendent. When the new administration came in, they started to minimize the role of police officers and take over the daily discipline and the behavioral situation in the building. Woodland Hills School District includes students from Braddock, Braddock Hills, Chalfant, Churchill, East Pittsburgh, Edgewood, Forest Hills, North Braddock, Rankin, Swissvale, Turtle Creek and Wilkins. Q: How were you able to get staff, students and families on board? }); Dr. Daniel Castagna PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Suspended superintendent accused of knowingly hiring man being investigated for murder. You just cant pull police out, that doesnt require any support. CBS News Pittsburgh: Free 24/7 News CBS Pittsburgh App I look forward to seeing our district succeed.. 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And we still have those items, but we try to make sure that the screening people smile and they welcome the kids to school, not just like youre coming into a prison door. The district's superintendent believes it's changed the school environment for the better, though he notes that it's crucial not just to remove police, but also to . Together, his classmates, along with Woodland Hills and Penn Hills students, listened and felt the pain of survivors who shared their stories. To my new Woodland Hills School District family, I hope this verdict allows us all to move forward together with the goal of creating opportunities for our students and multiple pathways to success, he said. If we cant de-escalate a situation, then no one really can. Harris: When procedures and practices were put in place where they were no longer necessary, some of the officers who were here said, Why am I even here? Thats the success, when the officer says, You dont need me here.. Especially after we have had time to demonstrate change," she said. Board member Bridgette Kreach mentioned that she had received letters of recommendation from colleagues at West Mifflin for Castagna and that his interview with the board went well. After an 8-1 vote, Harris stood up from his seat at the table and left the meeting. They awarded damages worth $2.95 million on Monday. Please read the update below from Superintendent James Harris regarding Wednesday's incident at the high school. "I look forward to working with the school board, administrators, teachers, staff, students and families so that together we can achieve excellence on every level. Dr. Daniel Castagna Superintendent Email: castda@whsd.us Superintendent Bio. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. This small Wilkinsburg private school wants to grow into a 'village' in the community, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. I am humbled and honored by the opportunity to serve the students of the Woodland Hills School District community as its Superintendent, Castagna said. It is not . In his subsequent lawsuit, Castagna argued he was targeted and eventually fired because of political differences with several school board members. Castagna has served as the acting superintendent since Jan. 28. Q: How did the culture change as police presence began to phase out? Scott said at the beginning of the meeting that Castagna was chosen because he had experience working directly as a superintendent in a district similar to Woodland Hills. 2023 Cox Media Group. I have cousins who are officers, I have cousins who are in law enforcement and in the judicial system. 0183, Teresa M. Hawthorne They go, I have other stuff to do in the community where I can be serving better than sitting in a room waiting for two 16-year-olds to smack each other on the neck, this is silly. It made it less confrontational, it made it less tense and those are words that students have used with me when I asked them a couple years ago, when I got here. I can understand that we don't always make the best decisions, and that shouldn't follow us for the rest of our lives. The conversation with Harris has been edited and condensed for brevity and clarity. A federal jury on Monday ordered West Mifflin School District to pay nearly $3 million to former Superintendent Daniel Castagna in connection with his 2019 firing. Five students sued the district in federal court, alleging the district fostered a culture of abuse. Q: In the 2018-19 school year, there were 1,381 students enrolled at Woodland Hills Jr./Sr. Former Woodland Hills School District superintendent James Harris is speaking out after Pittsburgh's Action News 4 obtained new documents regarding his firing. In the high school world, thats just two 16-year-olds being buddies. But if you do need me, please call, Ill be happy to come and work with the kids Thats what the conversation turned in to. burnley tip book a slot,