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. He . 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. Does Woodland Hills collect data around arrests and citations? If youre remodeling your house and theres a support beam, you dont just knock that beam out because you dont want it there, you have to put supports around it. Castagna's appointment carries a term of one year or until the district hires a new superintendent. We thank Mr. Harris for his service as the district superintendent and will work with him to ensure a smooth transition.". If we could do more things like this and have the community wrap around us and this problem. Messages: April 5th . 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. PITTSBURGH After four fights last week led to remote learning for Woodland Hills High School, students returned to the classrooms Monday with new rules. It was a 15-month ordeal that ended in Castagna suing the district in federal court. The district is holding a town hall meeting Monday at 6 p.m. at Focus on Renewal in McKees Rocks. 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. + Caption. 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. 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. Many pointed to Castagna having been charged with driving under the influence three separate times. The students listened to their own local leaders testify, including Woodland Hills Superintendent Daniel Castagna and Aliquippa Mayor Dwan Walker. The dispute was settled in 2018. This button displays the currently selected search type. Interim Superintendent You would be placing someone that many people in the community don't trust. Sarah previously worked with news outlets in Pennsylvania, Illinois and Idaho. A few others said that they supported a move to fire him. The board voted 5-1 to appoint Castagna as the superintendent; board member Terri Lawson abstained from voting. In the early 2000s, Woodland Hills was losing about 400 kids a year to charter schools. Castagna was hired by the district in 2007 and served as superintendent from 2011 through 2018. The board voted 8-1 to remove James Harris without cause. West Mifflin officials could not immediately be reached for comment. I am humbled and honored by the opportunity to serve the students of the Woodland Hills School District community as its Superintendent, Castagna said. Former school resource officer Stephen Shaulis was accused of excessive force for knocking out the tooth of a 14-year-old, among other incidents. 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. Instead of us going to the principals office and talking through our issue and shaking hands and going back to class, theres now a summons involved, then a court appearance. And now, we realize we dont need any. "During the course of our search for an acting superintendent, we had the opportunity to speak with both internal and external candidates. I implore you not to hire the candidate for the interim position of superintendent. The conversation with Harris has been edited and condensed for brevity and clarity. 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 . Woodland Hills Foundation (opens in new window/tab) 23-24 School Calendar; Superintendent's Office . Neither Scott nor Currie could be immediately reached for comment. Several community members and parents spoke in favor of Harris during public comment before the vote. 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. In recent weeks, several fights have broken out at the district's high school. Please don't do this to us." / CBS Pittsburgh. Castagna has not responded. Woodland Hills Golf & Country Club is an 18-hole, 6390 yard, par 72 championship golf course and country club. The former West Mifflin superintendent who was fired after his second DUI case has been hired by the Woodland Hills School District. James Harris: The administrators who were there prior really relied on police intervention to help manage behavioral problems and discipline within the building. 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. target: '' // Targeting 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. Learn more in our Cookie Policy. The faces of victims of gun violence were held tight by students and loved ones on the steps of the state capitol. Help us inform people in the Pittsburgh region with more stories like this support our nonprofit newsroom with a donation. Select Accept to consent or Reject to decline non-essential cookies for this use. 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. Then it got down to one [officer]. 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. The Woodland Hill School District released a statement after the meeting that said in part, "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. You can contact Patrick by email at pvarine@triblive.com or via Twitter . "Why are we not looking internally," asked Jennifer Alfieri, a registered speaker, and parent. We still have our counselors, our behavioral interventionists and a great leadership staff in the building. We cannot and will not stand for it. Harris walked out of the meeting right after the board voted. 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. The violence continues to touch and impact the youth of our area. 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: How long did Woodland Hills not have school police prior to shutting down because of COVID-19 in March? Do you feel more informed? Superintendent's Office; Title IX; Transcripts; Woodland Hills Foundation (opens in new window/tab) 23-24 School Calendar . This is not a person who has actively been working to improve children's lives in the past three years," said Moon. Its detrimental. It is not . "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. Mike Belmonte; Terri Lawson; Dr. Tammi L. McMillan, Ed.D; Darnika Reed; Carlton Scott; Bridgett . 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. 0183, Teresa M. Hawthorne It was the last meeting for three board members. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Suspended superintendent accused of knowingly hiring man being investigated for murder. 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. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here so far and will continue to partner with our districts talented staff and dedicated community. The school district announced on May 25 that Castagna would officially be head of the district from May 26, 2022, to May 25, 2027. When Walter Calinger was hired by Woodland Hills School District outside Pittsburgh, his claims of past accomplishment was discussed by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reporter Brian Bowling. This position is a position of public trust. So, for that I do apologize. Harris: When I first got here, we started collecting our write-ups, or incident referrals. 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 . 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. . PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Suspended superintendent accused of knowingly hiring man being investigated for murder. A lot of people in the community are upset about it. This realization helped lead the district into phasing out police presence in their school. 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. I am here to help that happen.". Superintendent's Office; Title IX; Transcripts; Woodland Hills Foundation (opens in new window/tab) 23-24 School Calendar . 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. Together, his classmates, along with Woodland Hills and Penn Hills students, listened and felt the pain of survivors who shared their stories. "My organization is all about second chances; we even hire previously incarcerated individuals. I look forward to seeing our district succeed.. Phillip Woods, former principal, and current superintendent at Aliquippa, stated, "It's hard listening to the comments and the judgment of Dr. Daniel Castagna. Q: How do you work to get beyond the belief some people have that students need police in schools? Q: In the 2018-19 school year, there were 1,381 students enrolled at Woodland Hills Jr./Sr. 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 . Woodland Hills Online Academy; Woodland Hills Opportunity Camp; Woodland Hills Senior High School; Departments. You need to make sure that the students have respect for each other, respect for the teachers and respect for themselves. Interim Superintendent email: castda@whsd.net 412.731.1300 ext. Students, parents, coaches and community leaders shared their opinions with the board. She can be reached at sschneider@wesa.fm. 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. "I do also believe, as Dr. Woods, in second chances," said Brandi Fisher, CEO and President of Alliance for Police Accountability. The Woodland Hills School District is no stranger to negative press, and the district is in the spotlight again after last week when several Woodland Hills parents raced to get registered to speak during the January 28, 2022, school board special legislative meeting. Five students sued the district in federal court, alleging the district fostered a culture of abuse. A legal fight could cause a delay and leave the matter to the new school board members, who take their seats in January. Police are staying, but the district has approved a resolution which will require the district to create a public database that combines school police data with student demographic information. The school board, staff and communitys belief in me is something I will never take for granted.. I know his heart, I know his mind, and I know his ability." Board President Jamie Glaser read the motion to terminate James Harris without cause effective Dec. 17. It was . I am here to help that happen. ", 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. NORTH BRADDOCK, Pa. (KDKA) -- The Woodland Hills school board has voted to terminate its superintendent. 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.. 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. Woodland Hills is a very special place, and I am proud to be a part of this family. email: hawtte@whsd.net West Mifflin accused Castagna of asking employees to complete private work on school district time and lying about his DUI history. That's who I cared about, and that's who you should care about.". Your vote tonight will be reflected in your record, and we will note it when you are up for election again.". That frees up the administration to do other things. Parents have to feel welcome when they go into the schools, students have to feel welcome. Pittsburgh's Action News 4 repeatedly reached out to Woodland Hills Superintendent Daniel Castagna for comment for months on the charges filed against Miles. Especially after we have had time to demonstrate change," she said. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. 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. So I hope you hear our voices. Woodland Hills Superintendent James Harris said there were several racially insensitive moments directed . Woodland Hills School District officials voted 8-1 in November 2021 to terminate the contract of Superintendent James Harris effective December 17. Q: How are challenges addressed and solved now? 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). 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. We have a great faculty in place, and the students in our district are capable of delivering great things. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 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. I can understand that we don't always make the best decisions, and that shouldn't follow us for the rest of our lives. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. We didnt need three years worth of data to make a decision. "We have many wonderful teachers. "But I am also a foster mom, mother, and child care educator for the past 18 years. 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. 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. 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. November 17, 2021 / 8:50 PM He served as the superintendent of West Mifflin from 2011 to 2019. Castagna later sued the school district after they released a list of grievances againsthim. I have cousins who are officers, I have cousins who are in law enforcement and in the judicial system. How do you work beyond the notion that people will take advantage of a school environment without police presence? Do you need that data to understand the problems, or were you just able to take action? 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. pageId: 726593, // Page : Woodland_Hills/ros 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.. "If you choose to go against what the community wants, we are going to fight you, and eventually, we're gonna win. He initially told KDKA it involved only a half-dozen students. 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. 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. Theres a lot of professional folks in that building who helped create a better environment. Harris told KDKA that the school board president, vice president and school solicitor asked him to resign on Tuesday. You have to make an environment thats friendly and welcoming. We thank Mr. Harris for his service as the district superintendent and will work with him to ensure a smooth transition.. 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 . Please enter valid email address to continue. How can these other districts replicate this given their own circumstances? 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. 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 . Some speakers said Harris helped improve district and student achievement. (Photo by Jay Manning/PublicSource), advocates and protestors called for removal of police from the. 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. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Parents concerned Woodland Hills moving to hire new superintendent with checkered past. NORTH BRADDOCK, Pa. The Woodland Hills School District has officially appointed Dr. Daniel Castagna as thedistricts new superintendent. 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. West Mifflin schools fired Castagna in 2019 after his second DUI case. The Woodland Hills School District has officially appointed Dr. Daniel Castagna as the district's new superintendent. He was placed on unpaid leave July 2 pending termination. CBS News Pittsburgh: Free 24/7 News CBS Pittsburgh App The board reorganization meeting is Dec. 6. Castagna replaces James Harris, who was fired in December. Q: Why is it important for students, especially now in our world, to have that support and go to a school where they feel welcome? The concept of voting out or recalling the board members who vote yes on Castagna was mentioned multiple times during the meeting. As the General Manager and Superintendent, I lead all aspects of operations with a . 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. NORTH BRADDOCK, Pa. (KDKA) -- The Woodland Hills school board has voted to terminate its superintendent. 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. Mike Belmonte; Terri Lawson; Dr. Tammi L. McMillan, Ed.D; Darnika Reed; Carlton Scott; Bridgett . formatId: 34956, // Format : IAB Leaderboard 728x90 Oregon romance writer charged with murdering husband found guilty, 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, Bride killed, groom critically injured after wedding reception when drunken driver hits golf cart, Man charged in connection to death of woman hit by truck in Oakland, 1 person killed in shooting in McKeesport, Many Dollar Bank customers missing hundreds of dollars due to ATM skimming, Its getting worse: Community seeking answers from Pittsburgh leaders in light of recent violence. 412.731.1300 ext. The School Board, staff and communitys belief in me is something I will never take for granted. Woodland Hills Superintendent James Harris said he was shocked when he was asked to resign. "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. I look forward to seeing our district succeed.. The board voted 8 to 1 to terminate James Harris without cause during a meeting on Wednesday. Very rarely were they ever called, so the officers sat in the office all day. People should have the opportunity to reinvent themselves and prove themselves. A statement from the board said that it would begin a search for a new leader immediately. The Woodland Hills school board abruptly fired its superintendent Wednesday night. 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). Castagna addressed his new district following news of the verdict in his lawsuit against West Mifflin. 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. 10:24 AM. He had been charged with a DUI in 2008 and in 2019. Other speakers did not agree. In a seemingly abrupt move Wednesday night, the Woodland Hills School Board voted to terminate its superintendent. 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.. "This isn't blowing over with me," said Tina Doose, a Braddock mother of seven children, three of whom have graduated from the district and three that are currently enrolled within it. "It doesn't make sense to me that we are even considering this person as a superintendent at the school district," said Dan Miller, one of the registered speakers at the meeting. He said the experience has changed him and because of that, he wanted to make the trip to Harrisburg. 2550 Greensburg Pike, Pittsburgh, PA 15218. Links. 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. 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.