Superintendent's Office - Woodland Hills School District 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. 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. Board member Bridgette Kreach mentioned that she had received letters of recommendation from colleagues at West Mifflin for Castagna and that his interview with the board went well. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. We added a number of supports, and then we pulled the heavy beam away, and it opened everything up. Castagna has served as the acting superintendent since Jan. 28. ", 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. CBS News Pittsburgh: Free 24/7 News CBS Pittsburgh App 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. Woodland Hills School District reduces property tax - Yahoo News Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 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. We didnt need three years worth of data to make a decision. Q: How do you work to get beyond the belief some people have that students need police in schools? Interim Superintendent "I do also believe, as Dr. Woods, in second chances," said Brandi Fisher, CEO and President of Alliance for Police Accountability. Help us inform people in the Pittsburgh region with more stories like this support our nonprofit newsroom with a donation. In recent weeks, several fights have broken out at the district's high school. "Our plan is to continue to provide this relief," Superintendent Dr. Daniel Castagna said. 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. 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. Caught On CCTV: Principal Holds Student's Head As He's Shot With - NDTV PITTSBURGH After four fights last week led to remote learning for Woodland Hills High School, students returned to the classrooms Monday with new rules. Walt Calinger - Wikipedia Justice Thomas Caulfield swore Castanga in as the new Woodland Hills superintendent. However, we have a terrible image problem. This realization helped lead the district into phasing out police presence in their school. She can be reached at sschneider@wesa.fm. Links. Please enter valid email address to continue. The Woodland Hills School District webpage has moved to www.whsd.net, Please visit the new website for updated information. Woodland Hills is a very special place, and I am proud to be a part of this family, Castagna said. Harris had been an administrator since 2018, and the school board did not give a reason for his firing. Castagna later sued the school district after they released a list of grievances againsthim. / CBS Pittsburgh. Castagna has not responded. NOW PLAYING ABOVE. 22-23 School Calendar - Woodland Hills School District 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. Board members did not say what prompted the termination. During the process, Dr. Castagna earned the support of the majority of the board," said Scott. Jul 2018 - Jul 20213 years 1 month. The board voted 8 to 1 to terminate James Harris without cause during a meeting on Wednesday. The district serves 12 municipalities east of Pittsburgh and enrolls about 3,300 students. It was . The School Board, staff and communitys belief in me is something I will never take for granted. Former Woodland Hills superintendent responds to new documents - WTAE "The result of what some of us believe was a hasty and unwarranted action was a loss of public trust." Woodland Hills Golf & Country Club is an 18-hole, 6390 yard, par 72 championship golf course and country club. Board member Robert Clanagan-Bey stated that he trusted that the four of his other eight board members were making the right decision, which is why he was voting yes despite not initially knowing much about Castagna. We knew week-to-week, we can see changes based on the minor adjustments that we were doing. Former Daniel Boone superintendent hired by western Pa - The Mercury You need to make sure that the students have respect for each other, respect for the teachers and respect for themselves. 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 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." After an 8-1 vote, Harris stood up from his seat at the table and left the meeting. Harris walked out of the meeting right after the board voted. He joined the call on zoom. 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. | Watch WPXI NOW, 18-year-old killed, another injured in crash on I-79 3 Rivers Casino employees fired, charged after fight in dining room, state police say Pittsburgh doctor speaks on deadly fungal infections across US VIDEO: Peace summit in Larimer brings together domestic abuse survivors with goal of taking action DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts, 18-year-old killed, another injured in crash on I-79, 3 Rivers Casino employees fired, charged after fight in dining room, state police say, Pittsburgh doctor speaks on deadly fungal infections across US, VIDEO: Peace summit in Larimer brings together domestic abuse survivors with goal of taking action, DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts, For only the second time in its history, the US Navy is beginning the slow, tricky process of taking apart a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, A Towering, Terrifying Demon Horse Isnt Even the Weirdest Part, Man who lost wife, son in Texas mass shooting tells story, Roman Polanski and the woman he pleaded guilty to raping pose together 45 years later, Hunter Biden appears in court for paternity case, Virtual run raises awareness for MMIP families throughout the country, Pour Salt Down Your Drain At Night, Here's Why, This Series on Swedish Death Cleaning Unpacks the Emotional Burden of Clutter, Shop the top trends from the 2023 Met Gala red carpet: Nude dresses, corsets and black and white. Peters Township School District Investigating Allegations - CBS News Immediately, he had the officers trade their bulletproof vests for khakis and polo shirts. Members . Hawkins witnessed the chaos and death of a Steven Eason, a Central Catholic student who was shot in 2021. "I appreciate the Woodland Hills School District giving me this opportunity to serve as its acting superintendent," Dr. Castagna said in the release. formatId: 34956, // Format : IAB Leaderboard 728x90 "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. 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. 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 . Most of the speakers showed their support for Harris, while a few others wanted him fired. pageId: 726593, // Page : Woodland_Hills/ros BECOME A MEMBER. 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. Change your mind. "But I am also a foster mom, mother, and child care educator for the past 18 years. I think we can change it, it can change, said Carter Lance, a Penn Hills junior. 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 have said no thank you, and we are saying tonight, no thank you. 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. 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. "Mr. Harris has consistently lied to us, to the media, to our parents, to our students, to our teachers. He is not eligible for any benefits but will be paid $615 per day. The tone of the night changed briefly when Castagna's only non-school board public supporter stood up to speak. Please choose someone else.". 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. 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.. Sarah previously worked with news outlets in Pennsylvania, Illinois and Idaho. We thank Mr. Harris for his service as the district superintendent and will work with him to ensure a smooth transition.. Woodland Hills School District approves teacher cuts, tax reduction - MSN 0183 The Woodland Hills School District Welcomes Dr. Daniel Castagna as Interim Superintendent. 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. Woodland Hills Appoints Former West Mifflin Superintendent Fired After That's who I cared about, and that's who you should care about.". 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. Our teachers are tired of it, our students are tired of it, our parents are most definitely tired of it," said one student. Messages: April 5th . The School Board, staff and communitys belief in me is something I will never take for granted. Teresa M. Hawthorne Executive Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent Email: hawtte@whsd.us Phone: 412-731-1300 x0183 FAX: 412-679-1621 . I implore you not to hire the candidate for the interim position of superintendent. "Why are we not looking internally," asked Jennifer Alfieri, a registered speaker, and parent. 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 . Castagna, in a statement released by his attorney, thanked the jurors. Covid guidelines and mandates have been controversial during the pandemic, but Woodland Hills' covid procedures and requirements regarding distancing and mask-wearing are strict. + Caption. I can understand that we don't always make the best decisions, and that shouldn't follow us for the rest of our lives. Before the vote, school board members gave comments about Castagna, which caused conflict between some and caused disruption and shouting out from the public. 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. 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." "We're trying to . 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. "If you choose to go against what the community wants, we are going to fight you, and eventually, we're gonna win. 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). 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. "That was never the intent. Students return to Woodland Hills High School with new rules - WPXI PublishedNovember 17, 2021 at 9:53 PM EST. Wednesday night's meeting got heated before the vote. Staff Page - Woodland Hills School District 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. 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. 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. 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. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here so far and will continue to partner with our districts talented staff and dedicated community. An October Message From The Superintendent | News Archive "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. 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. A few others said that they supported a move to fire him. Many pointed to Castagna having been charged with driving under the influence three separate times. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. Harris: You have to go building by building, and you have to empower the building leadership to make decisions. The officers prior to us getting here would be involved in the day-to-day happenings with what was going on with the students. Rontez Miles appears before North Versailles judge 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. A legal fight could cause a delay and leave the matter to the new school board members, who take their seats in January. 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. Theres a lot of professional folks in that building who helped create a better environment. The board voted 8-1 to remove James Harris without cause. Mike Belmonte; Terri Lawson; Dr. Tammi L. McMillan, Ed.D; Darnika Reed; Carlton Scott; Bridgett . 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. Patrick Varine is a Tribune-Review staff writer. 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. 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. 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. 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 . 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. You dont need police to control the hallways at school to keep it calm. Q: How has your background as a military police officer shaped the way you handle discipline at Woodland Hills? As communities grapple with the role of policing on their streets, youth advocates and educators are also considering and sometimes fiercely debating whether police should have a presence in schools. 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. 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. Harris: When I first got here, we started collecting our write-ups, or incident referrals. You can contact Patrick by email at pvarine@triblive.com or via Twitter . 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. Just over 24 hours after being asked for his resignation, the Woodland Hills School Board voted to terminate Superintendent James P. Harris's . Strategic Plan Midpoint - Professional Education. I have cousins who are officers, I have cousins who are in law enforcement and in the judicial system. 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. }); Dr. Daniel Castagna Doose was the final registered speaker of the night before the public comment section opened up. 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. 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. Woods described growing up with Castagna and being mentored by him. So I hope you hear our voices. Harris was hired in 2018 as the district was under the spotlight after its school police were accused of using excessive force. Woodland Hills School District names Dr. Daniel Castagna as superintendent James Harris: The administrators who were there prior really relied on police intervention to help manage behavioral problems and discipline within the building. 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. "During the course of our search for an acting superintendent, we had the opportunity to speak with both internal and external candidates. Pittsburgh's Action News 4 repeatedly reached out to Woodland Hills Superintendent Daniel Castagna for comment for months on the charges filed against Miles. 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. Woodland Hills Superintendent James Harris said there were several racially insensitive moments directed . Now inspired by the journey, these kids hope to use this experience to make a change back in their own communities. 35 years later, we take a look at the impact of the - PublicSource When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. Please read the update below from Superintendent James Harris regarding Wednesday's incident at the high school. 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. Woodland Hills superintendent describes benefits of - PublicSource 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. 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. Unified. The concept of voting out or recalling the board members who vote yes on Castagna was mentioned multiple times during the meeting. Superintendent's Office; Title IX; Transcripts; Woodland Hills Foundation (opens in new window/tab) 23-24 School Calendar . Harris: Any business or any organization wants people to feel welcome, but the students have a lot of needs, and so do staff. siteId: 126296, // My family is very strong and stuck together, and I dont want to see that fall apart due to gun violence, said Xavier Weisenz, a Woodland Hills freshman. Woodland Hills School District officials voted 8-1 in November 2021 to terminate the contract of Superintendent James Harris effective December 17. Imagine decreasing that infraction rate almost 70%. "That action often gave the impression that we were downplaying the severity of the incident," the letter states. Woodland Hills School District. Then it got down to one [officer]. Executive Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent 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. 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 . So, it was a gradual approach to removal. They awarded damages worth $2.95 million on Monday. Woodland Hills appoints Castagna as permanent superintendent; 2 school The school district announced on May 25 that Castagna would officially be head of the district from May 26, 2022, to May 25, 2027. Just having a stabler, calmer environment; we had less blow-ups between students and staff. He said the experience has changed him and because of that, he wanted to make the trip to Harrisburg. Please don't do this to us." Woodland Hills School District names Dr. Daniel Castagna as Woodland Hills Superintendent James Harris Says He Will Fight - YouTube This article first appeared in a February 02, 2022 issue of The Valley Mirror. A lot of people in the community are upset about it. 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. "There are currently five board members who . If we could do more things like this and have the community wrap around us and this problem. (Photo by Jay Manning/PublicSource), advocates and protestors called for removal of police from the. He had been charged with a DUI in 2008 and in 2019. During the process, Dr. Castagna earned the support of the majority of the board," board member Carlton Scott said in a district-issued release.

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