Dr. Daniel Castagna Superintendent Email: castda@whsd.us Superintendent Bio. "Mr. Harris has consistently lied to us, to the media, to our parents, to our students, to our teachers. pic.twitter.com/l73WMgdWIs, Nicole Ford (@NicoleFordTV) March 23, 2023. Links. Our teachers are tired of it, our students are tired of it, our parents are most definitely tired of it," said one student. About 30 students . I think we can change it, it can change," said Carter Lance, a Penn Hills junior. While they were still identified as police, this would be the beginning of a culture shift when it came to policing at Woodland Hills. Help us inform people in the Pittsburgh region with more stories like this support our nonprofit newsroom with a donation. Harris: Im not anti-police. Castagna has not responded. 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. It was . 10:24 AM. 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." pageId: 726593, // Page : Woodland_Hills/ros The School Board, staff and communitys belief in me is something I will never take for granted. Could policing be reimagined in schools? Hed previously been charged with driving under the influence in 2008, and he was later charged again in August 2019. Castagna replaces James Harris, who was fired in December. Castagna was fired by West Mifflin school officials in 2019, and this past March, a federal jury ordered the district to pay him nearly $3 million the result of a lawsuit in which he accused the district of violating his First Amendment rights to political affiliation and free speech, violating the states whistleblower law and breaching its contract with him. 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.. ", 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. During the process, Dr. Castagna earned the support of the majority of the board," board member Carlton Scott said in a district-issued release. You can contact Patrick by email at pvarine@triblive.com or via Twitter . 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. Woodland Hills is a very special place, and I am proud to be a part of this family. 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. Woodland Hills Superintendent Alan Johnson told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "Mr. Hollis is taking a couple of isolated incidents and turning them into a pattern that does not exist. This is not a person who has actively been working to improve children's lives in the past three years," said Moon. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 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. Together, his classmates, along with Woodland Hills and Penn Hills students, listened and felt the pain of survivors who shared their stories. 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. The faces of victims of gun violence were held tight by students and loved ones on the steps of the state capitol. On Friday during a special legislative meeting, the Woodland Hills school board appointed Daniel Castagna as acting superintendent. 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 . Executive Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent Andre Patterson cast the lone vote against the move. 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A legal fight could cause a delay and leave the matter to the new school board members, who take their seats in January. As many as 30 students were identified in a cafeteria fight. "Why are we not looking internally," asked Jennifer Alfieri, a registered speaker, and parent. Do you need that data to understand the problems, or were you just able to take action? NORTH BRADDOCK, Pa. The Woodland Hills School District has officially appointed Dr. Daniel Castagna as the district's new superintendent. JAMES P. HARRIS JR., the new superintendent of the Woodland Hills School District, fields questions from reporters after being sworn-in, Aug. Key Responsibilities: Supervise on-site activities. The board did not comment on the matter during the meeting, but in a statement issued after the vote, said: After much discussion, the board has opted to go in a different direction with district leadership. 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. 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. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Former Woodland Hills School District superintendent James Harris is speaking out after Pittsburgh's Action News 4 obtained new documents regarding his firing. 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. That frees up the administration to do other things. 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. We thank Mr. Harris for his service as the district superintendent and will work with him to ensure a smooth transition.. A lot of people in the community are upset about it. 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. Castagna's appointment carries a term of one year or until the district hires a new superintendent. "We're trying to . Harris: The phased-out approach it showed not having a need. As the General Manager and Superintendent, I lead all aspects of operations with a . West Mifflin schools fired Castagna in 2019 after his second DUI case. In his subsequent lawsuit, Castagna argued he was targeted and eventually fired because of political differences with several school board members. This realization helped lead the district into phasing out police presence in their school. Harris: When I first got here, we started collecting our write-ups, or incident referrals. target: '' // Targeting The school district announced on May 25 that Castagna would officially be head of the district from May 26, 2022, to May 25, 2027. "During the course of our search for an acting superintendent, we had the opportunity to speak with both internal and external candidates. The board voted 8-1 to remove James Harris without cause. After an 8-1 vote, Harris stood up from his seat at the table and left the meeting. email: castda@whsd.net NORTH BRADDOCK, Pa. The Woodland Hills School District has officially appointed Dr. Daniel Castagna as thedistricts new superintendent. You can update your choices at any time in your settings. Many pointed to Castagna having been charged with driving under the influence three separate times. "It's detrimental. A statement from the board said that it would begin a search for a new leader immediately. 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 district serves 12 municipalities east of Pittsburgh and enrolls about 3,300 students. "I appreciate the Woodland Hills School District giving me this opportunity to serve as its acting superintendent," Castagna said in a statement. Castagna later sued the school district after they released a list of grievances againsthim. Harris was hired in 2018 as the district was under the spotlight after its school police were accused of using excessive force. We didnt need three years worth of data to make a decision. The school board, staff and communitys belief in me is something I will never take for granted.. 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. "We have said no thank you, and we are saying tonight, no thank you. 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. Mike Belmonte; Terri Lawson; Dr. Tammi L. McMillan, Ed.D; Darnika Reed; Carlton Scott; Bridgett . 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. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Parents concerned Woodland Hills moving to hire new superintendent with checkered past. 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. I look forward to seeing our district succeed.. November 17, 2021 / 8:50 PM 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. / CBS Pittsburgh. Students, parents, coaches and community leaders shared their opinions with the board. If we could do more things like this and have the community wrap around us and this problem. 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." 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. "That action often gave the impression that we were downplaying the severity of the incident," the letter states. 412.731.1300 ext. NORTH BRADDOCK, Pa. (KDKA) -- The Woodland Hills school board has voted to terminate its superintendent. The violence continues to touch and impact the youth of our area. 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. 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. It was the last meeting for three board members. Q: How were you able to get staff, students and families on board? The Woodland Hills School District Welcomes Dr. Daniel Castagna as Interim Superintendent. Nov 17, 2021. 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. 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. (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 . He served as the superintendent of West Mifflin from 2011 to 2019. Many speakers during the meeting noted that they were frustrated by the districts lack of transparency in the matter. Both voted against Castagnas appointment as acting superintendent in January, along with board president Mike Belmonte and Lawson. If we cant de-escalate a situation, then no one really can. Castagna . In a seemingly abrupt move Wednesday night, the Woodland Hills School Board voted to terminate its superintendent. This button displays the currently selected search type. . Castagna later sued the school district after they released a list of grievances againsthim. Messages: April 5th . I look forward to seeing our district succeed.. He said the experience has changed him and because of that, he wanted to make the trip to Harrisburg. Q: In the 2018-19 school year, there were 1,381 students enrolled at Woodland Hills Jr./Sr. Thats how I can tell you when were down about 70% of our write-ups, meaning incidences where a teacher says that the student did something an infraction. He is not eligible for any benefits but will be paid $615 per day. He can be reached at kellen@publicsource.org. Sarah previously worked with news outlets in Pennsylvania, Illinois and Idaho. CBS News Pittsburgh: Free 24/7 News CBS Pittsburgh App Castagna has served as the acting superintendent since Jan. 28. 2550 Greensburg Pike, Pittsburgh, PA 15218. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Parents concerned Woodland Hills moving to hire new superintendent with checkered past. Please enter valid email address to continue. West Mifflin accused Castagna of asking employees to complete private work on school district time and lying about his DUI history. I know his heart, I know his mind, and I know his ability." I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here so far and will continue to partner with our districts talented staff and dedicated community. May 25, 2022 at 10:51 pm EDT. "It's hard to find someone who hasn't had some issues. ", 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. I am humbled and honored by the opportunity to serve the students of the Woodland Hills School District community as its Superintendent, Castagna said. 0183. 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. 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. 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. He initially told KDKA it involved only a half-dozen students. Harris told KDKA before the meeting that he plans to fight the decision. The Woodland Hills School District has officially appointed Dr. Daniel Castagna as thedistricts new superintendent. The rally is only the beginning. From early learning to higher education, Sarah is interested in students and educators working to create more equitable systems. 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 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 . The former West Mifflin superintendent who was fired after his second DUI case has been hired by the Woodland Hills School District. West Mifflin accused Castagna of asking employees to complete private work on school district time and lying about his DUI history. I dont see the reason why I should be here. 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. formatId: 34956, // Format : IAB Leaderboard 728x90 The district is holding a town hall meeting Monday at 6 p.m. at Focus on Renewal in McKees Rocks. They awarded damages worth $2.95 million on Monday. Scott then welcomed Castagna to the district before the official vote was taken. "Our plan is to continue to provide this relief," Superintendent Dr. Daniel Castagna said. Just over 24 hours after being asked for his resignation, the Woodland Hills School Board voted to terminate Superintendent James P. Harris's . Thats the key to removing the police. This small Wilkinsburg private school wants to grow into a 'village' in the community, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. Q: How did the culture change as police presence began to phase out? 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. We have a great faculty in place, and the students in our district are capable of delivering great things. (Photo by Jay Manning/PublicSource), advocates and protestors called for removal of police from the. Please read the update below from Superintendent James Harris regarding Wednesday's incident at the high school. Woodland Hills four-year graduation rate in the 2014-15 school year was just above 80 percent. As a result, the district moved to virtual learning for two days in October. Teresa M. Hawthorne Executive Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent Email: hawtte@whsd.us Phone: 412-731-1300 x0183 FAX: 412-679-1621 . 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. 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 . 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. 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. Hawkins witnessed the chaos and death of a Steven Eason, a Central Catholic student who was shot in 2021. He . He served as the superintendent of West Mifflin from 2011 to 2019. Superintendents Bio. People should have the opportunity to reinvent themselves and prove themselves. The School Board, staff and communitys belief in me is something I will never take for granted. In recent weeks, several fights have broken out at the district's high school. We thank Mr. Harris for his service as the district superintendent and will work with him to ensure a smooth transition.". Doose was the final registered speaker of the night before the public comment section opened up. 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. 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 . Superintendent's Office; Title IX; Transcripts; Woodland Hills Foundation (opens in new window/tab) 23-24 School Calendar . He was set to be arraigned later that month on DUI charges stemming from an incident in Beaver County three months earlier. You have to make an environment thats friendly and welcoming. The concept of voting out or recalling the board members who vote yes on Castagna was mentioned multiple times during the meeting. 412.731.1300 ext. Former school resource officer Stephen Shaulis was accused of excessive force for knocking out the tooth of a 14-year-old, among other incidents. "My wife and I are graduates of this district, and we are fierce defenders of this school district, but this is indefensible.