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 . 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. The district is holding a town hall meeting Monday at 6 p.m. at Focus on Renewal in McKees Rocks. 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. He said the experience has changed him and because of that, he wanted to make the trip to Harrisburg. You have to feel welcome, and when you have to go through metal detectors, or youre being patted down like youre going to the airport or something, you dont feel like youre in a safe environment because of those things. On Friday during a special legislative meeting, the Woodland Hills school board appointed Daniel Castagna as acting superintendent. We thank Mr. Harris for his service as the district superintendent and will work with him to ensure a smooth transition.. He served as the superintendent of West Mifflin from 2011 to 2019. I think we can change it, it can change," said Carter Lance, a Penn Hills junior. Immediately, he had the officers trade their bulletproof vests for khakis and polo shirts. After an 8-1 vote, Harris stood up from his seat at the table and left the meeting. pic.twitter.com/l73WMgdWIs, Nicole Ford (@NicoleFordTV) March 23, 2023. 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. Teresa M. Hawthorne Executive Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent email: hawtte @whsd.net 412.731.1300 ext. Many speakers during the meeting noted that they were frustrated by the districts lack of transparency in the matter. Select Accept to consent or Reject to decline non-essential cookies for this use. Superintendents Message . The district said Harris' last day will be Dec. 17th and the search for a new superintendent starts immediately. Parents are involved, its a $200 to $300 fine, which is silly when all I had to do was resolve it would be a handshake and, Hey, dont smack me anymore.. The board voted 5-1 to appoint Castagna as the superintendent; board member Terri Lawson abstained from voting. Other speakers did not agree. If we cant de-escalate a situation, then no one really can. 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. "But I am also a foster mom, mother, and child care educator for the past 18 years. Due to the pandemic, students at Woodland Hills are only partially in school for in-person instruction, but Harris describes the positive change hes seen since they started reducing, and finally eliminating police from school (they still have unarmed security guards). 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. Interim Superintendent email: castda@whsd.net 412.731.1300 ext. 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. This is the first time in district history, a 41-year time period, that property taxes have been reduced. Dr. Daniel Castagna Superintendent Email: castda@whsd.us Superintendent Bio. ", 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. 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. Castagna . "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. 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. 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. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. 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. 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. Haunted Hills hay rides there are special effects, but nobody thought somebody got shot, then I turned over and the dude is just there, laid out, had got shot, said Che Hawkins, a Clairton City sophomore. West Mifflin accused Castagna of asking employees to complete private work on school district time and lying about his DUI history. 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 . NORTH BRADDOCK, Pa. (KDKA) -- The Woodland Hills school board has voted to terminate its superintendent. I can understand that we don't always make the best decisions, and that shouldn't follow us for the rest of our lives. I think we can change it, it can change, said Carter Lance, a Penn Hills junior. Teresa M. Hawthorne Executive Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent Email: hawtte@whsd.us Phone: 412-731-1300 x0183 FAX: 412-679-1621 . The school board, staff and communitys belief in me is something I will never take for granted.. Castagna has served as the acting superintendent since Jan. 28. Before the vote, school board members gave comments about Castagna, which caused conflict between some and caused disruption and shouting out from the public. Q: How are challenges addressed and solved now? 0183 The Woodland Hills School District Welcomes Dr. Daniel Castagna as Interim Superintendent. How do you work beyond the notion that people will take advantage of a school environment without police presence? "There are currently five board members who . Woodland Hills is a very special place, and I am proud to be a part of this family. He was set to be arraigned later that month on DUI charges stemming from an incident in Beaver County three months earlier. Castagna later sued the school district after they released a list of grievances againsthim. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. 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. In a seemingly abrupt move Wednesday night, the Woodland Hills School Board voted to terminate its superintendent. Instead, I simply found that he co-owns a bar that has been shut down for covid violations. The Woodland Hills school board voted 5-4 after a contentious meeting in late January to hire Castagna as acting superintendent during the search for a permanent replacement for James Harris. 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. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Parents concerned Woodland Hills moving to hire new superintendent with checkered past. Despite the efforts of concerned residents and an online petition that received over 350 signatures, the vote concluded with four against and five for Castagna. You have to make an environment thats friendly and welcoming. The board voted 8 to 1 to terminate Harris without a cause after he came under criticism for his handling of fights at the high school. January 28, 2022 / 9:29 PM NORTH . We have many wonderful programs for our students. 0183, Teresa M. Hawthorne Harris: You have to go building by building, and you have to empower the building leadership to make decisions. Woodland Hills School District officials voted 8-1 in November 2021 to terminate the contract of Superintendent James Harris effective December 17. 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. About 30 students . PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Parents concerned Woodland Hills moving to hire new superintendent with checkered past. We cannot and will not stand for it. I dont see the reason why I should be here. The bar Castagna co-owns, Cosmo on Carson, was cited in 2020 for lack of face coverings, failure to physically distance customers, and serving alcohol without a meal. Unified. NORTH BRADDOCK, Pa. The Woodland Hills School District has officially appointed Dr. Daniel Castagna as the district's new superintendent. Nov 17, 2021. In the early 2000s, Woodland Hills was losing about 400 kids a year to charter schools. 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. During the process, Dr. Castagna earned the support of the majority of the board," said Scott. target: '' // Targeting 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. 2023 Cox Media Group. 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. Q: In the 2018-19 school year, there were 1,381 students enrolled at Woodland Hills Jr./Sr. Please enter valid email address to continue. 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. It was a 15-month ordeal that ended in Castagna suing the district in federal court. You can contact Patrick by email at pvarine@triblive.com or via Twitter . "If you choose to go against what the community wants, we are going to fight you, and eventually, we're gonna win. Please choose someone else.". LinkedIn and 3rd parties use essential and non-essential cookies to provide, secure, analyze and improve our Services, and to show you relevant ads (including professional and job ads) on and off LinkedIn. "As a mom, it's important that my children have examples - have role models. I look forward to seeing our district succeed.. Q: How has your background as a military police officer shaped the way you handle discipline at Woodland Hills? Learn more in our Cookie Policy. In recent weeks, several fights have broken out at the district's high school. Could policing be reimagined in schools? During the process, Dr. Castagna earned the support of the majority of the board," board member Carlton Scott said in a district-issued release. email: castda@whsd.net 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. Harris: Any business or any organization wants people to feel welcome, but the students have a lot of needs, and so do staff. 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. Now inspired by the journey, these kids hope to use this experience to make a change back in their own communities. "We have said no thank you, and we are saying tonight, no thank you. While they were still identified as police, this would be the beginning of a culture shift when it came to policing at Woodland Hills. Strategic Plan Midpoint - Professional Education. 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. 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." 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.. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Suspended superintendent accused of knowingly hiring man being investigated for murder. This button displays the currently selected search type. Woodland Hills is a very special place, and I am proud to be a part of this family, Castagna said. Board President Jamie Glaser read the motion to terminate James Harris without cause effective Dec. 17. 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 . TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox. Scott then welcomed Castagna to the district before the official vote was taken. In his subsequent lawsuit, Castagna argued he was targeted and eventually fired because of political differences with several school board members. Do you need that data to understand the problems, or were you just able to take action? sas.setup({ domain: 'https://www5.smartadserver.com'}); "I appreciate the Woodland Hills School District giving me this opportunity to serve as its acting superintendent," Castagna said in a statement. The contact is for one year or until a new superintendent is hired, according to school board documents. Sarah Schneider is WESA's education reporter. Have a tip for the WESA newsroom? Harris: The phased-out approach it showed not having a need. I implore you not to hire the candidate for the interim position of superintendent. 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. 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. The school district announced on May 25 that Castagna would officially be head of the district from May 26, 2022, to May 25, 2027. Castagna will be the acting superintendent for one year or until a new superintendent is hired. 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.. TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox. 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. I was never trained in the military police academy to patrol a high school. This article first appeared in a February 02, 2022 issue of The Valley Mirror. Q: How long did Woodland Hills not have school police prior to shutting down because of COVID-19 in March? Ensure on-site staff are complying with plans and safety requirements. We still have our counselors, our behavioral interventionists and a great leadership staff in the building. 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 . Wednesday night's meeting got heated before the vote. 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 . The School Board, staff and communitys belief in me is something I will never take for granted. The Woodland Hills School District Welcomes Dr. Daniel Castagna as Interim Superintendent. I have cousins who are officers, I have cousins who are in law enforcement and in the judicial system. Help us inform people in the Pittsburgh region with more stories like this support our nonprofit newsroom with a donation. Harris: Its less tense. 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. 10:24 AM. Parents have to feel welcome when they go into the schools, students have to feel welcome. The meeting was set for board members to vote on whether or not to hire Dr. Daniel Castagna as superintendent of the Woodland Hills School District. You dont need police to control the hallways at school to keep it calm. Please don't do this to us." Many teachers, and I'll say many of the board members, have been that to my children and to the children of the district. That frees up the administration to do other things. 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. 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. Links. As the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports, Daniel Castagna, 43, of Beaver County, is the new acting superintendent of Woodland Hills School District in Allegheny County, effective immediately. Covid guidelines and mandates have been controversial during the pandemic, but Woodland Hills' covid procedures and requirements regarding distancing and mask-wearing are strict. He had been charged with a DUI in 2008 and in 2019. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. If we could do more things like this and have the community wrap around us and this problem. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Suspended superintendent accused of knowingly hiring man being investigated for murder. Castagna's appointment carries a term of one year or until the district hires a new superintendent. Neither Scott nor Currie could be immediately reached for comment. This small Wilkinsburg private school wants to grow into a 'village' in the community, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. The board also accepted the resignation of members Ronna Currie and Marilyn Scott. Thats the key to removing the police. Woodland Hills senior Desmon Jackson said whatever the intent was, it was hurtful. ", He said that the students' behavior would not be tolerated, "and we will be doing a better job in becoming proactive moving forward.". 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. Harris had been an administrator since 2018, and the school board did not give a reason for his firing. 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. He had been charged with a DUI in 2008 and in 2019. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The agreements were approved by the Woodland Hills School District Board of School Directors during their legislative meeting on January 18, 2023. The conversation with Harris has been edited and condensed for brevity and clarity. The rally is only the beginning. Athletics (opens in new window/tab) Buildings and Grounds; Business and Finance; Curriculum; Personnel . I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here so far and will continue to partner with our districts talented staff and dedicated community.. (Photo by Dayna Delgado) Those infamous videos of Woodland Hills students either being tackled, put in a headlock, lifted up against a locker, slammed to the ground, etc., by a school resource officer or another adult in an authoritative capacity have . Castagna has served as the acting superintendent since Jan. 28. Daniel Castagna, superintendent of the Woodland Hills School District, said after the vote, "I'm truly humbled and honored by the board's decision to allow me to serve students and the community . Several community members and parents spoke in favor of Harris during public comment before the vote. 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. The Woodland Hills School District board of directors voted to approve a budget plan that would reduce property taxes. We didnt do that; thats not our role. Woodland Hills Superintendent James Harris said there were several racially insensitive moments directed . ", Speakers after Woods agreed that many people do make mistakes and deserve second chances but felt that Castagna has already had the opportunity to learn from his mistakes and failed to live up to the task. "During the course of our search for an acting superintendent, we had the opportunity to speak with both internal and external candidates. Woodland Hills four-year graduation rate in the 2014-15 school year was just above 80 percent. First published on November 17, 2021 / 8:50 PM. Woodland Hills School District. "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. Its detrimental. Harris was hired in 2018 as the district was under the spotlight after its school police were accused of using excessive force. The officers prior to us getting here would be involved in the day-to-day happenings with what was going on with the students. Together, his classmates, along with Woodland Hills and Penn Hills students, listened and felt the pain of survivors who shared their stories. 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. Justice Thomas Caulfield swore Castanga in as the new Woodland Hills superintendent. "During the course of our search for an acting superintendent, we had the opportunity to speak with both internal and external candidates. Key Responsibilities: Supervise on-site activities. "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. "That action often gave the impression that we were downplaying the severity of the incident," the letter states. Scott stated that the candidates from within the school district were looked at but were not qualified since they did not have working experience as superintendents. Castagna addressed his new district following news of the verdict in his lawsuit against West Mifflin. I am humbled and honored by the opportunity to serve the students of the Woodland Hills School District community as its Superintendent, Castagna said. Q: How were you able to get staff, students and families on board? We knew week-to-week, we can see changes based on the minor adjustments that we were doing. The violence continues to touch and impact the youth of our area. Castagna was fired as superintendent of West Mifflin Area schools in March 2019 following two DUI arrests and accusations of neglect ofduties, incompetency, and immorality. 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. Very rarely were they ever called, so the officers sat in the office all day. (Photo by Jay Manning/PublicSource), advocates and protestors called for removal of police from the. Q: On Sept. 23, the board of Pittsburgh Public Schools approved a resolution aimed to increase school police transparency and help to stop the school-to-prison pipeline. Hawkins witnessed the chaos and death of a Steven Eason, a Central Catholic student who was shot in 2021. So, it was a gradual approach to removal. So I hope you hear our voices. Castagna replaces James Harris, who was fired in December. This is not a person who has actively been working to improve children's lives in the past three years," said Moon. 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. Five students sued the district in federal court, alleging the district fostered a culture of abuse. 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. 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 have thoroughly enjoyed my time here so far and will continue to partner with our districts talented staff and dedicated community. Superintendent's Office; Title IX; Transcripts; Woodland Hills Foundation (opens in new window/tab) 23-24 School Calendar . 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. The concept of voting out or recalling the board members who vote yes on Castagna was mentioned multiple times during the meeting. Superintendent Johnson said the numbers have been static in the last three years; they're getting just as many back as they lose. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. West Mifflin schools fired Castagna in 2019 after his second DUI case. Harris: When I first got here, we started collecting our write-ups, or incident referrals. Theres a lot of professional folks in that building who helped create a better environment. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The school district announced on May 25 that Castagna would officially be head of the district from May 26, 2022, to May 25, 2027. Some speakers said Harris helped improve district and student achievement. 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.. What we did not want to have continue to happen was the criminalization of adolescent behavior. A few others said that they supported a move to fire him. 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. 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. Q: How do you work to get beyond the belief some people have that students need police in schools? "I could not find any evidence that Dr. Castagna had been active in the field of education in the last three years. 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. Kellen Stepler is an editorial intern for PublicSource. Woodland Hills Online Academy; Woodland Hills Opportunity Camp; Woodland Hills Senior High School; Departments.