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. "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.". I look forward to seeing our district succeed.. They questioned whether it was a good idea for someone who has been through alcohol intervention programs to own a bar and has pictures of himself on social media with containers of alcohol. 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. Harris told KDKA before the meeting that he plans to fight the decision. The concept of voting out or recalling the board members who vote yes on Castagna was mentioned multiple times during the meeting. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here so far and will continue to partner with our districts talented staff and dedicated community. We thank Mr. Harris for his service as the district superintendent and will work with him to ensure a smooth transition.". This realization helped lead the district into phasing out police presence in their school. 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." 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. Most of the speakers showed their support for Harris, while a few others wanted him fired. If we could do more things like this and have the community wrap around us and this problem. They need to feel like they have a voice and that they are being listened to. "My wife and I are graduates of this district, and we are fierce defenders of this school district, but this is indefensible. November 17, 2021 / 8:50 PM The school district announced on May 25 that Castagna would officially be head of the district from May 26, 2022, to May 25, 2027. The tone of the night changed briefly when Castagna's only non-school board public supporter stood up to speak. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Suspended superintendent accused of knowingly hiring man being investigated for murder. Superintendent's Office; Title IX; Transcripts; Woodland Hills Foundation (opens in new window/tab) 23-24 School Calendar . You just cant pull police out, that doesnt require any support. "That was never the intent. Woodland Hills Golf & Country Club is an 18-hole, 6390 yard, par 72 championship golf course and country club. You dont need police to control the hallways at school to keep it calm. Hawkins witnessed the chaos and death of a Steven Eason, a Central Catholic student who was shot in 2021. sas.setup({ domain: 'https://www5.smartadserver.com'}); Harris walked out of the meeting right after the board voted. Could policing be reimagined in schools? I implore you not to hire the candidate for the interim position of superintendent. Even in my organization, we hire previously incarcerated individuals, but we don't allow certain people to work with children; because it's not about what I want, it's not about what Dr. Woods wants, it's about what the parents want. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Harris told KDKA that the school board president, vice president and school solicitor asked him to resign on Tuesday. Woodland Hills hired Woods a year after Kevin Murray resigned as high school principal following several controversies involving the treatment of students that led to a federal lawsuit against the district. email: castda@whsd.net On Jan. 10, 2018, he began a two-week medical leave, and the school board voted Jan. 19 to place him on paid leave. Please read the update below from Superintendent James Harris regarding Wednesday's incident at the high school. 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, 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 we cant de-escalate a situation, then no one really can. "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. It comes as the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee is holding its first discussion in more than a decade on laws related to guns. Email news@wesa.fm. NORTH BRADDOCK, Pa. (KDKA) -- The Woodland Hills school board has voted to terminate its superintendent. Theres a lot of professional folks in that building who helped create a better environment. The conversation with Harris has been edited and condensed for brevity and clarity. Members . Strategic Plan Midpoint - Professional Education. In a letter to families, Harris apologized for giving incomplete information in the wake of that fight in what he called his attempt to be transparent. 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. 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.. "If you choose to go against what the community wants, we are going to fight you, and eventually, we're gonna win. Especially after we have had time to demonstrate change," she said. The board voted 8-1 to remove James Harris without cause. 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. 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 . I was never trained in the military police academy to patrol a high school. Now inspired by the journey, these kids hope to use this experience to make a change back in their own communities. "I appreciate the Woodland Hills School District giving me this opportunity to serve as its acting superintendent," Castagna said in a statement. ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. . Help us inform people in the Pittsburgh region with more stories like this support our nonprofit newsroom with a donation. 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. 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. "I do also believe, as Dr. Woods, in second chances," said Brandi Fisher, CEO and President of Alliance for Police Accountability. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. She can be reached at sschneider@wesa.fm. On Wednesday, Aug. 15, the Woodland Hills School Board voted unanimously to hire Harris as the next superintendent for the Allegheny County district, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Woodland Hills School District. Castagna addressed his new district following news of the verdict in his lawsuit against West Mifflin. Woodland Hills Foundation (opens in new window/tab) 23-24 School Calendar; Superintendent's Office . 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. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Parents concerned Woodland Hills moving to hire new superintendent with checkered past. Help us inform people in the Pittsburgh region with more stories like this support our nonprofit newsroom with a donation. "We have said no thank you, and we are saying tonight, no thank you. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Scott then welcomed Castagna to the district before the official vote was taken. 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. Our teachers are tired of it, our students are tired of it, our parents are most definitely tired of it," said one student. Make a gift of $7/month or more to get yours today! I dont see the reason why I should be here. 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. Castagna replaces James Harris, who was fired in December. 15. 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. Unified. The first registered speaker was Annie Moon of Chalfant, a Woodland Hills alumni who had previously participated in a focus group about the district hosted by the AIU. Interim Superintendent email: castda@whsd.net 412.731.1300 ext. From early learning to higher education, Sarah is interested in students and educators working to create more equitable systems. The agreements were approved by the Woodland Hills School District Board of School Directors during their legislative meeting on January 18, 2023. Woodland Hills School District officials voted 8-1 in November 2021 to terminate the contract of Superintendent James Harris effective December 17. This article first appeared in a February 02, 2022 issue of The Valley Mirror. 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. 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. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. That's who I cared about, and that's who you should care about.". "I could not find any evidence that Dr. Castagna had been active in the field of education in the last three years. Students, parents, coaches and community leaders shared their opinions with the board. 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. 50 years ago this month, we exposed a state institution. "If you all vote tonight to remove this great man, this great leader, you are making a bad decision, a real bad decision. Harris: Any business or any organization wants people to feel welcome, but the students have a lot of needs, and so do staff. Its detrimental. The contact is for one year or until a new superintendent is hired, according to school board documents. He . It was the last meeting for three board members. Castagna has served as the districts acting superintendent since late January, following the school boards decision to terminate superintendent James Harris contract in December2021. Messages: April 5th . Superintendents Bio. You can contact Patrick by email at pvarine@triblive.com or via Twitter . Harris has come under fire recently for his handling of fights at the high school, including one involving as many as 50 or 60 students. 2550 Greensburg Pike, Pittsburgh, PA 15218. They awarded damages worth $2.95 million on Monday. The dispute was settled in 2018. 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. ", He said that the students' behavior would not be tolerated, "and we will be doing a better job in becoming proactive moving forward.". 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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 . As many as 30 students were identified in a cafeteria fight. That frees up the administration to do other things. 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. Harris: Its less tense. Thats the key to removing the police. What we did not want to have continue to happen was the criminalization of adolescent behavior. The school board, staff and communitys belief in me is something I will never take for granted.. Patrick Varine is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Please choose someone else.". "Our plan is to continue to provide this relief," Superintendent Dr. Daniel Castagna said. "Mr. Harris has consistently lied to us, to the media, to our parents, to our students, to our teachers. 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. NORTH BRADDOCK, Pa. The Woodland Hills School District has officially appointed Dr. Daniel Castagna as the district's new superintendent. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here so far and will continue to partner with our districts talented staff and dedicated community.. Harris: Im not anti-police. Justice Thomas Caulfield swore Castanga in as the new Woodland Hills superintendent. The Woodland Hills School District board of directors voted to approve a budget plan that would reduce property taxes. formatId: 34956, // Format : IAB Leaderboard 728x90 . CBS News Pittsburgh: Free 24/7 News CBS Pittsburgh App The district said Harris' last day will be Dec. 17th and the search for a new superintendent starts immediately. Castagna has served as the acting superintendent since Jan. 28. . Then it got down to one [officer]. I think we can change it, it can change, said Carter Lance, a Penn Hills junior. Phillip Woods, former principal, and current superintendent at Aliquippa, stated, "It's hard listening to the comments and the judgment of Dr. Daniel Castagna. 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. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. The board voted 8 to 1 to terminate James Harris without cause during a meeting on Wednesday. 0183, Teresa M. Hawthorne The Woodland Hills School District Welcomes Dr. Daniel Castagna as Interim Superintendent. While they were still identified as police, this would be the beginning of a culture shift when it came to policing at Woodland Hills. 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. Woods described growing up with Castagna and being mentored by him. It is not . We have over 200 kids, 400 parents in our program and they're very upset about it and everybody in the community doesn't know what's going on right now," said Kareem Sarvis from the Woodland Hills Midget Football Association. 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. 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. He had been charged with a DUI in 2008 and in 2019. 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. Woodland Hills is a very special place, and I am proud to be a part of this family, Castagna said. However, we have a terrible image problem. This position is a position of public trust. A few others said that they supported a move to fire him. I am humbled and honored by the opportunity to serve the students of the Woodland Hills School District community as its Superintendent, Castagna said. Some speakers said Harris helped improve district and student achievement. Select Accept to consent or Reject to decline non-essential cookies for this use. In a 5-4 vote, the Pittsburgh Public Schools board voted Wednesday to use $27,000 in grant funds to cover costs of police training for four district security guards. 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. High School. 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. "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. In the early 2000s, Woodland Hills was losing about 400 kids a year to charter schools. So, for that I do apologize. I look forward to seeing our district succeed.. 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. JAMES P. HARRIS JR., the new superintendent of the Woodland Hills School District, fields questions from reporters after being sworn-in, Aug. }); Dr. Daniel Castagna 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 board voted 5-1 to appoint Castagna as the superintendent; board member Terri Lawson abstained from voting. "During the course of our search for an acting superintendent, we had the opportunity to speak with both internal and external candidates. Castagna . 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." A lot of people in the community are upset about it. 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 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. So, it was a gradual approach to removal. Dr. Daniel Castagna Superintendent Email: castda@whsd.us Superintendent Bio. 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 have to make an environment thats friendly and welcoming. 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. Please don't do this to us." pageId: 726593, // Page : Woodland_Hills/ros "That action often gave the impression that we were downplaying the severity of the incident," the letter states. Sarah Schneider is WESA's education reporter. ", Speakers from the public comment section were quick to remind board members that they are representatives of the community, that it was their job to listen to their constituents, and that they could be voted out just as quickly as they were voted in. Interim Superintendent 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). Key Responsibilities: Supervise on-site activities. Harris: The phased-out approach it showed not having a need. A statement from the board said that it would begin a search for a new leader immediately. Pittsburgh's Action News 4 repeatedly reached out to Woodland Hills Superintendent Daniel Castagna for comment for months on the charges filed against Miles. 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. After an 8-1 vote, Harris stood up from his seat at the table and left the meeting. 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..
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