However, with the redesign of the high school and a lot of our buildings are safer, theyre harder to get in if youre an outside person trying to do some bad stuff in a school. 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. Walt Calinger - Wikipedia Woodland Hills School Board Votes To Terminate Superintendent James + Caption. Castagna later sued the school district after they released a list of grievances againsthim. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Pa. superintendent with 3 DUI arrests is hired amid protests: 'It's Five students sued the district in federal court, alleging the district fostered a culture of abuse. Staff Page - Woodland Hills School District Castagna . Woodland Hills Appoints Former West Mifflin Superintendent Fired After He had been charged with a DUI in 2008 and in 2019. Make a gift of $7/month or more to get yours today! The tone of the night changed briefly when Castagna's only non-school board public supporter stood up to speak. Hawkins witnessed the chaos and death of a Steven Eason, a Central Catholic student who was shot in 2021. Woodland Hills Senior High School; Turtle Creek Elementary STEAM Academy; Edgewood Elementary STEAM Academy; Wilkins Elementary STEAM Academy; WH Online Academy; Dickson STEAM Academy; WHOC - Woodland Hills Opportunity Camp; School Board . 50 years ago this month, we exposed a state institution. Nov 17, 2021. siteId: 126296, // That allowed us to act immediately Were looking at the data, which you have to gather, but my teamwe all sat down and said, OK, this is how we should adjust and adapt to our environment, and how we can offer supports.. 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In his subsequent lawsuit, Castagna argued he was targeted and eventually fired because of political differences with several school board members. The board also accepted the resignation of members Ronna Currie and Marilyn Scott. Woodland Hills hires Dan Castagna as superintendent - WTAE Mike Belmonte; Terri Lawson; Dr. Tammi L. McMillan, Ed.D; Darnika Reed; Carlton Scott; Bridgett . Covid guidelines and mandates have been controversial during the pandemic, but Woodland Hills' covid procedures and requirements regarding distancing and mask-wearing are strict. "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. email: hawtte@whsd.net People should have the opportunity to reinvent themselves and prove themselves. The officer sees that and may file charges for assault, or I complain because you hit me too hard then you have a fine or summons because of it. Together, his classmates, along with Woodland Hills and Penn Hills students, listened and felt the pain of survivors who shared their stories. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Parents concerned Woodland Hills moving to hire new superintendent with checkered past. The contact is for one year or until a new superintendent is hired, according to school board documents. Thats the key to removing the police. 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. Former Woodland Hills School District superintendent James Harris is speaking out after Pittsburgh's Action News 4 obtained new documents regarding his firing. West Mifflin accused Castagna of asking employees to complete private work on school district time and lying about his DUI history. Harris told KDKA that the school board president, vice president and school solicitor asked him to resign on Tuesday. formatId: 34956, // Format : IAB Leaderboard 728x90 The school board, staff and communitys belief in me is something I will never take for granted.. Several community members and parents spoke in favor of Harris during public comment before the vote. 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. Dr. Daniel Castagna Superintendent Email: castda@whsd.us Superintendent Bio. So, it was a gradual approach to removal. Castagna argued that the West Mifflin school board's charges were political retaliation and filed lawsuits against the district and the board, with the retaliation lawsuit eventually being dismissed by a judge. Sarah previously worked with news outlets in Pennsylvania, Illinois and Idaho. Ensure on-site staff are complying with plans and safety requirements. Pittsburgh's Action News 4 repeatedly reached out to Woodland Hills Superintendent Daniel Castagna for comment for months on the charges filed against Miles. Superintendent - Woodland Hills School District 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. 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. In recent weeks, several fights have broken out at the district's high school. Woods described growing up with Castagna and being mentored by him. This is not a decision that was taken lightly, but it is one that the board believes is necessary for the district to move forward. 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. 0183. If we could do more things like this and have the community wrap around us and this problem. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. 0183 The Woodland Hills School District Welcomes Dr. Daniel Castagna as Interim Superintendent. NORTH . Former school resource officer Stephen Shaulis was accused of excessive force for knocking out the tooth of a 14-year-old, among other incidents. 10:24 AM. When they bring that role of police into the building, it does create an environment that is a bit more tense than if they were not police, just by the nature of the role. "My organization is all about second chances; we even hire previously incarcerated individuals. NORTH BRADDOCK, Pa. The Woodland Hills School District has officially appointed Dr. Daniel Castagna as the district's new superintendent. We thank Mr. Harris for his service as the district superintendent and will work with him to ensure a smooth transition.". 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. Messages: April 5th . She can be reached at sschneider@wesa.fm. "As a mom, it's important that my children have examples - have role models. Both voted against Castagnas appointment as acting superintendent in January, along with board president Mike Belmonte and Lawson. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. Castagna has also served as superintendent in the West Mifflin School District from 2011-2019, and has worked in administrative positions in both the Baldwin-Whitehall and Hopewell Area school districts. Teresa M. Hawthorne Executive Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent email: hawtte @whsd.net 412.731.1300 ext. 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. Woodland Hills School District names Dr. Daniel Castagna as superintendent It was . "There are currently five board members who were not on the board when the decision was made to terminate Superintendent James Harris in December," was the opening comment made by board member Carlton Scott of Region 1 - Chalfant, Churchill, Wilkins, and Turtle Creek, which started off the meeting before registered speakers made their statements. Harris: Schools are generally non-violent places, and if there are situations where you need police, sometimes if you add a more rigorous, interesting curriculum, students have something to do, and that will redirect them. Sarah Schneider is WESA's education reporter. Jul 2018 - Jul 20213 years 1 month. The board voted 5-1 to appoint Castagna as the superintendent; board member Terri Lawson abstained from voting. 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. Q: How do you work to get beyond the belief some people have that students need police in schools? 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 . 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 Superintendent will be responsible for understanding each contract; developing professional relationships with the subcontractors and on-site staff and provide leadership from the start to finish of the project. We didnt do that; thats not our role. 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? 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We have peer-to-peer [counseling], we have teacher-to-student [counseling], we have behavioral interventions, we have counseling, we have assistant principals, we have principals, we have myself. After a very long and hard-fought battle, I feel vindicated knowing that the jury saw through the school districts false allegations and found that I was the target of illegal retaliation, he said. The board did not comment on the matter during the meeting, but in a statement issued after the vote, said: After much discussion, the board has opted to go in a different direction with district leadership. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here so far and will continue to partner with our districts talented staff and dedicated community.. I think we can change it, it can change, said Carter Lance, a Penn Hills junior. The Woodland Hills School District has officially appointed Dr. Daniel Castagna as the district's new superintendent. NORTH BRADDOCK, Pa. (KDKA) -- The Woodland Hills school board has voted to terminate its superintendent. If we could do more things like this and have the community wrap around us and this problem. Woodland Hills superintendent describes benefits of - PublicSource We didnt need three years worth of data to make a decision. Woodland Hills Online Academy; Woodland Hills Opportunity Camp; Woodland Hills Senior High School; Departments. This is not a person who has actively been working to improve children's lives in the past three years," said Moon. 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. Q: As police presence phased out, has anything surprised you? In the high school world, thats just two 16-year-olds being buddies. Please choose someone else.". PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Suspended superintendent accused of knowingly hiring man being investigated for murder. Athletics (opens in new window/tab) Buildings and Grounds; Business and Finance; Curriculum; Personnel . 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. While they were still identified as police, this would be the beginning of a culture shift when it came to policing at Woodland Hills. Do you need that data to understand the problems, or were you just able to take action? Castagna was hired by the district in 2007 and served as superintendent from 2011 through 2018. He . In the early 2000s, Woodland Hills was losing about 400 kids a year to charter schools. High School. Harris: Im not anti-police. Its finally closing. Scott then welcomed Castagna to the district before the official vote was taken. The violence continues to touch and impact the youth of our area. 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 - Wikipedia email: castda@whsd.net Harris: We have layers. When I met with students at the high school, they said they understood the reason why we would have police for outside threats because of the way society is moving. I am humbled and honored by the opportunity to serve the students of the Woodland Hills School District community as its superintendent, Castagna said. 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. CBS News Pittsburgh: Free 24/7 News CBS Pittsburgh App 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. Harris had been an administrator since 2018, and the school board did not give a reason for his firing. He is not eligible for any benefits but will be paid $615 per day. The Woodland Hills School District has officially appointed Dr. Daniel Castagna as thedistricts new superintendent. JAMES P. HARRIS JR., the new superintendent of the Woodland Hills School District, fields questions from reporters after being sworn-in, Aug. "That was never the intent. Instead, I simply found that he co-owns a bar that has been shut down for covid violations. They questioned if he would have been pulled over for more than one instance of drunk driving if he had learned from his mistakes the first time. At Pittsburgh Public Schools [PPS] the areas largest district, with an enrollment of 22,859 advocates and protestors called for removal of police from the districts police force. 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. He served as the superintendent of West Mifflin from 2011 to 2019. This is the first time in district history, a 41-year time period, that property taxes have been reduced. Andre Patterson cast the lone vote against the move. I know his heart, I know his mind, and I know his ability." Q: How were you able to get staff, students and families on board? "This is Indefensible." Castagna Voted In Against the Wishes of Change your mind. Other speakers did not agree. 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. West Mifflin officials could not immediately be reached for comment. Wednesday night's meeting got heated before the vote. Board members did not say what prompted the termination. The rally is only the beginning. District officials defended his hiring following a meeting that saw hours of public comments. The district serves 12 municipalities east of Pittsburgh and enrolls about 3,300 students. 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. T he Woodland Hills School Board made two big moves in their Wednesday night meeting, approving a tax cut for people who live in the district, and in a controversial vote, furloughing teachers and . 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. ", First published on January 28, 2022 / 9:29 PM. Video shows principal holding a student's head while he's shocked with Kellen Stepler is an editorial intern for PublicSource. We knew week-to-week, we can see changes based on the minor adjustments that we were doing. Jury orders West Mifflin School District to pay $2.9M to former ", 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. November 17, 2021 / 8:50 PM Woodland Hills School District partners with Trey Edmunds, Leon Ford to "Why are we not looking internally," asked Jennifer Alfieri, a registered speaker, and parent. First published on November 17, 2021 / 8:50 PM. The board reorganization meeting is Dec. 6. When you introduce a law enforcement officer into a situation, theres very little gray involved; its either black or white. So, for that I do apologize. The concept of voting out or recalling the board members who vote yes on Castagna was mentioned multiple times during the meeting. A lot of people in the community are upset about it. And now, we realize we dont need any. West Mifflin accused Castagna of asking employees to complete private work on school district time and lying about his DUI history. }); Dr. Daniel Castagna Castagna has served as the acting superintendent since Jan. 28. PITTSBURGH After four fights last week led to remote learning for Woodland Hills High School, students returned to the classrooms Monday with new rules. I am humbled and honored by the opportunity to serve the students of the Woodland Hills School District community as its Superintendent, Castagna said. 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. 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. "Mr. Harris has consistently lied to us, to the media, to our parents, to our students, to our teachers. As many as 30 students were identified in a cafeteria fight. . Harris: Its less tense. I think people will be very nervous if we just said, OK, were getting rid of the police, but didnt put any other supports in place. The former West Mifflin superintendent who was fired after his second DUI case has been hired by the Woodland Hills School District. The board voted 8 to 1 to terminate James Harris without cause during a meeting on Wednesday. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: West Mifflin School District to pay former superintendent $2.9 million, Oregon romance writer charged with murdering husband found guilty Oregon romance writer charged with murdering husband found guilty (NCD). 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. A few others said that they supported a move to fire him. Now inspired by the journey, these kids hope to use this experience to make a change back in their own communities. "We're trying to . TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox. They need to feel like they have a voice and that they are being listened to. 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. 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. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. NORTH BRADDOCK, Pa. (KDKA) -- The Woodland Hills school board has voted to terminate its superintendent. Our teachers are tired of it, our students are tired of it, our parents are most definitely tired of it," said one student. Castagna previously served as the superintendent of West Mifflin School District, assistant principal at Baldwin-Whitehall School District and worked as a teacher in the Hopewell Area School District. He joined the call on zoom. Caught On CCTV: Principal Holds Student's Head As He's Shot With - NDTV PublishedNovember 17, 2021 at 9:53 PM EST. 2023 Cox Media Group. The school district announced on May 25 that Castagna would officially be head of the district from May 26, 2022, to May 25, 2027. Does Woodland Hills collect data around arrests and citations? Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. Harris told KDKA before the meeting that he plans to fight the decision. The Woodland Hills School District with a notably smaller enrollment of 3,310 in the 2018-19 school year eliminated police from schools after a two-year phase out. Former Woodland Hills superintendent responds to new documents - WTAE Please enter valid email address to continue. ", He said that the students' behavior would not be tolerated, "and we will be doing a better job in becoming proactive moving forward.". We understand that there has been heightened attention and discussion regarding this decision, board member Carlton Scott said, but we truly believe that Dr. Castagna will faithfully and expertly guide the Woodland Hills School District during this transition period.. As the General Manager and Superintendent, I lead all aspects of operations with a . This small Wilkinsburg private school wants to grow into a 'village' in the community, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. Most of the speakers showed their support for Harris, while a few others wanted him fired. He was set to be arraigned later that month on DUI charges stemming from an incident in Beaver County three months earlier. A lot of districts say, Well, the police officers are mentors, and leaders of the community and they work with the kids. Thats great, but when they put that uniform on, theyre in the role of a police officer. Very rarely were they ever called, so the officers sat in the office all day. 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. 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. This realization helped lead the district into phasing out police presence in their school. 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. I was never trained in the military police academy to patrol a high school. The conversation with Harris has been edited and condensed for brevity and clarity. What we did was instead of having police show up for something, we have mental health people, we have behavioral interventionists, we have principals, were all trained, teachers who are trained to de-escalate and talk to the students and community members, so that they do feel that theyre in a place of shelter. "We understand that there has been heightened attention and discussion regarding this decision, but we truly believe that Dr. Castagna will faithfully and expertly guide the Woodland Hills School District during this transition period.".
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