Woodland Hills is a very special place, and I am proud to be a part of this family. Woodland Hills School District is a public school district located in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, serving twelve municipalities in the Pittsburgh area; Braddock, Braddock Hills, Chalfant, Churchill, East Pittsburgh, Edgewood, Forest Hills, North Braddock, Rankin, Swissvale, Turtle Creek and Wilkins Township (except for a small portion). Harris spoke with PublicSource to discuss how the atmosphere has changed and how this idea can be considered in other districts. The School Board, staff and communitys belief in me is something I will never take for granted. Some speakers said Harris helped improve district and student achievement. 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. Imagine decreasing that infraction rate almost 70%. (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 . Q: As police presence phased out, has anything surprised you? 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.. That's who I cared about, and that's who you should care about.". They need to feel like they have a voice and that they are being listened to. People should have the opportunity to reinvent themselves and prove themselves. Athletics (opens in new window/tab) Buildings and Grounds; Business and Finance; Curriculum; Personnel . 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. High School. 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. Q: How were you able to get staff, students and families on board? 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. May 25, 2022 at 10:51 pm EDT. It comes as the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee is holding its first discussion in more than a decade on laws related to guns. "There are currently five board members who . However, we have a terrible image problem. 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. 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. Harris: This is the first year we have no police. You just cant pull police out, that doesnt require any support. This button displays the currently selected search type. January 28, 2022 / 9:29 PM As the General Manager and Superintendent, I lead all aspects of operations with a . 50 years ago this month, we exposed a state institution. 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. Sarah previously worked with news outlets in Pennsylvania, Illinois and Idaho. 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. Superintendent Johnson said the numbers have been static in the last three years; they're getting just as many back as they lose. . 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. 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. He served as the superintendent of West Mifflin from 2011 to 2019. 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. As many as 30 students were identified in a cafeteria fight. 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"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. 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. West Mifflin accused Castagna of asking employees to complete private work on school district time and lying about his DUI history. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Harris: The phased-out approach it showed not having a need. 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 appreciate the Woodland Hills School District giving me this opportunity to serve as its acting superintendent," Dr. Castagna said in the release. 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. 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 . Woodland Hills Foundation (opens in new window/tab) 23-24 School Calendar; Superintendent's Office . 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. Q: How has your background as a military police officer shaped the way you handle discipline at Woodland Hills? Nov 17, 2021. If we could do more things like this and have the community wrap around us and this problem. West Mifflin schools fired Castagna in 2019 after his second DUI case. Last year, pre-COVID, we were down about 70% in our incidences. Mike Belmonte; Terri Lawson; Dr. Tammi L. McMillan, Ed.D; Darnika Reed; Carlton Scott; Bridgett . 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. The Woodland Hills School District has officially appointed Dr. Daniel Castagna as the district's new superintendent. Doose was the final registered speaker of the night before the public comment section opened up. The former West Mifflin superintendent who was fired after his second DUI case has been hired by the Woodland Hills School District. I look forward to seeing our district succeed.. Kellen Stepler is an editorial intern for PublicSource. 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. The agreements were approved by the Woodland Hills School District Board of School Directors during their legislative meeting on January 18, 2023. 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. Woodland Hills School District officials voted 8-1 in November 2021 to terminate the contract of Superintendent James Harris effective December 17. 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 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. The district is holding a town hall meeting Monday at 6 p.m. at Focus on Renewal in McKees Rocks. 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. District officials defended his hiring following a meeting that saw hours of public comments. And now, we realize we dont need any. Castagna addressed his new district following news of the verdict in his lawsuit against West Mifflin. We knew week-to-week, we can see changes based on the minor adjustments that we were doing. It was the last meeting for three board members. We didnt need three years worth of data to make a decision. 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 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. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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." He can be reached at kellen@publicsource.org. Castagna has served as the acting superintendent since Jan. 28. Just over 24 hours after being asked for his resignation, the Woodland Hills School Board voted to terminate Superintendent James P. Harris's . 2550 Greensburg Pike, Pittsburgh, PA 15218. 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. 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. / CBS Pittsburgh. Especially after we have had time to demonstrate change," she said. As a result, the district moved to virtual learning for two days in October. While they were still identified as police, this would be the beginning of a culture shift when it came to policing at Woodland Hills. A lot of people in the community are upset about it. 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. 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. They awarded damages worth $2.95 million on Monday. You can contact Patrick by email at pvarine@triblive.com or via Twitter . 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. When [High School Principal Phillip] Woods got here, he said that hes going to keep control of the building, and hell call [the police] when necessary. 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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 . We still have our counselors, our behavioral interventionists and a great leadership staff in the building. email: hawtte@whsd.net 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. So, for that I do apologize. Our teachers are tired of it, our students are tired of it, our parents are most definitely tired of it," said one student. 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. When you introduce a law enforcement officer into a situation, theres very little gray involved; its either black or white. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here so far and will continue to partner with our districts talented staff and dedicated community. James Harris: The administrators who were there prior really relied on police intervention to help manage behavioral problems and discipline within the building. Harris: Any business or any organization wants people to feel welcome, but the students have a lot of needs, and so do staff. Woodland Hills Online Academy; Woodland Hills Opportunity Camp; Woodland Hills Senior High School; Departments. Earlier on Wednesday, Harris told KDKA that he was completely blindsided when the board president, vice president and solicitor asked him to resign on Tuesday. It is not . I can understand that we don't always make the best decisions, and that shouldn't follow us for the rest of our lives. How can these other districts replicate this given their own circumstances? On Friday during a special legislative meeting, the Woodland Hills school board appointed Daniel Castagna as acting superintendent. 10:24 AM. 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. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 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." The school district announced on May 25 that Castagna would officially be head of the district from May 26, 2022, to May 25, 2027. Key Responsibilities: Supervise on-site activities. After an 8-1 vote, Harris stood up from his seat at the table and left the meeting. Make a gift of $7/month or more to get yours today! 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 . The board reorganization meeting is Dec. 6. BECOME A MEMBER. Links. 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. He had been charged with a DUI in 2008 and in 2019. 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. Together, his classmates, along with Woodland Hills and Penn Hills students, listened and felt the pain of survivors who shared their stories. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. I am humbled and honored by the opportunity to serve the students of the Woodland Hills School District community as its Superintendent, Castagna said. "My organization is all about second chances; we even hire previously incarcerated individuals. Woodland Hills Online Academy; Woodland Hills Opportunity Camp; Woodland Hills Senior High School; Departments. "As a mom, it's important that my children have examples - have role models. Castagna, in a statement released by his attorney, thanked the jurors. Messages: April 5th . 0183 The Woodland Hills School District Welcomes Dr. Daniel Castagna as Interim Superintendent. The Woodland Hills school board abruptly fired its superintendent Wednesday night. 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. 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. Former school resource officer Stephen Shaulis was accused of excessive force for knocking out the tooth of a 14-year-old, among other incidents. 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. Hed previously been charged with driving under the influence in 2008, and he was later charged again in August 2019. 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. Thats the key to removing the police. What we did not want to have continue to happen was the criminalization of adolescent behavior. The students listened to their own local leaders testify, including Woodland Hills Superintendent Daniel Castagna and Aliquippa Mayor Dwan Walker. Harris: We have layers. You dont need police to control the hallways at school to keep it calm. 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. 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. Woodland Hills Superintendent James Harris said he was shocked when he was asked to resign. Patrick Varine is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You need to make sure that the students have respect for each other, respect for the teachers and respect for themselves. This is the first time in district history, a 41-year time period, that property taxes have been reduced. We thank Mr. Harris for his service as the district superintendent and will work with him to ensure a smooth transition.. "I do also believe, as Dr. Woods, in second chances," said Brandi Fisher, CEO and President of Alliance for Police Accountability. Theres a lot of professional folks in that building who helped create a better environment. 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. Now inspired by the journey, these kids hope to use this experience to make a change back in their own communities. The district serves 12 municipalities east of Pittsburgh and enrolls about 3,300 students. 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 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. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. "It's detrimental. As the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports, Daniel Castagna, 43, of Beaver County, is the new acting superintendent of Woodland Hills School District in Allegheny County, effective immediately. 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. 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. 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 contact is for one year or until a new superintendent is hired, according to school board documents. I am humbled and honored by the opportunity to serve the students of the Woodland Hills School District community as its Superintendent, Castagna said. You have to make an environment thats friendly and welcoming. A statement from the board said that it would begin a search for a new leader immediately. NORTH . 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. pageId: 726593, // Page : Woodland_Hills/ros So, it was a gradual approach to removal. Instead, I simply found that he co-owns a bar that has been shut down for covid violations. Harris: When I first got here, we started collecting our write-ups, or incident referrals. As the Sto-Rox School District enters its second year of state-mandated financial recovery, district leaders want to hear what the public thinks the schools could do better. Harris told KDKA that the school board president, vice president and school solicitor asked him to resign on Tuesday. Please take a moment to read this message from Woodland Hills Superintendent Dr. Daniel Castagna. 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. Jul 2018 - Jul 20213 years 1 month. Members . I am here to help that happen. Its finally closing. This is not a person who has actively been working to improve children's lives in the past three years," said Moon. 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. Students, parents, coaches and community leaders shared their opinions with the board. Please read the update below from Superintendent James Harris regarding Wednesday's incident at the high school. Justice Thomas Caulfield swore Castanga in as the new Woodland Hills superintendent. Help us inform people in the Pittsburgh region with more stories like this support our nonprofit newsroom with a donation. "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. "We're trying to . A few others said that they supported a move to fire him. The rally is only the beginning. Interim Superintendent "During the course of our search for an acting superintendent, we had the opportunity to speak with both internal and external candidates. ", First published on January 28, 2022 / 9:29 PM. This article first appeared in a February 02, 2022 issue of The Valley Mirror. Many speakers during the meeting noted that they were frustrated by the districts lack of transparency in the matter. "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. 15. Superintendents Message . Many teachers, and I'll say many of the board members, have been that to my children and to the children of the district. "But I am also a foster mom, mother, and child care educator for the past 18 years. ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. . 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. Athletics (opens in new window/tab) Buildings and Grounds; Business and Finance; Curriculum; Personnel . (Photo by Jay Manning/PublicSource), advocates and protestors called for removal of police from the. "I appreciate the Woodland Hills School District giving me this opportunity to serve as its acting superintendent," Castagna said in a statement. On his first day as Woodland Hills superintendent in 2018, James Harris said he noticed two Churchill borough police officers who were assigned to the district wearing full SWAT tactical gear, as students shuffled off buses and entered the high school for the first day of school. Harris was hired in 2018 as the district was under the spotlight after its school police were accused of using excessive force. He . He was set to be arraigned later that month on DUI charges stemming from an incident in Beaver County three months earlier. 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. 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. "Why are we not looking internally," asked Jennifer Alfieri, a registered speaker, and parent. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. 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.
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