woodland hills superintendent

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. sas.setup({ domain: 'https://www5.smartadserver.com'}); 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. You have to make an environment thats friendly and welcoming. What we did not want to have continue to happen was the criminalization of adolescent behavior. 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. I am here to help that happen.". 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. Harris: This is the first year we have no police. West Mifflin accused Castagna of asking employees to complete private work on school district time and lying about his DUI history. siteId: 126296, // Castagna was hired by the district in 2007 and served as superintendent from 2011 through 2018. A few others said that they supported a move to fire him. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Castagnas firing from his West Mifflin post came after a series of hearings throughout 2018 under a law that allows for superintendents and assistant superintendents to have their contracts terminated with a school board vote for neglect of duty, incompetency, or immorality.. "The result of what some of us believe was a hasty and unwarranted action was a loss of public trust." 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. 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 . "We have made a commitment to provide a wide range of support systems to our students," Woodland Hills Superintendent Dr. Daniel Castagna said. Dr. Daniel Castagna Superintendent Email: castda@whsd.us Superintendent Bio. 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. So, for that I do apologize. I am humbled and honored by the opportunity to serve the students of the Woodland Hills School District community as its superintendent, Castagna said. 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. He was set to be arraigned later that month on DUI charges stemming from an incident in Beaver County three months earlier. 2550 Greensburg Pike, Pittsburgh, PA 15218. Teresa M. Hawthorne Executive Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent Email: hawtte@whsd.us Phone: 412-731-1300 x0183 FAX: 412-679-1621 . The board also accepted the resignation of members Ronna Currie and Marilyn Scott. 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 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. 0183, Teresa M. Hawthorne During the process, Dr. Castagna earned the support of the majority of the board," board member Carlton Scott said in a district-issued release. Superintendents Message . Members . 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 . You have to feel welcome, and when you have to go through metal detectors, or youre being patted down like youre going to the airport or something, you dont feel like youre in a safe environment because of those things. 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. Superintendents Bio. 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. Before the vote, school board members gave comments about Castagna, which caused conflict between some and caused disruption and shouting out from the public. Several community members and parents spoke in favor of Harris during public comment before the vote. email: castda@whsd.net How can these other districts replicate this given their own circumstances? We thank Mr. Harris for his service as the district superintendent and will work with him to ensure a smooth transition.. Q: As police presence phased out, has anything surprised you? ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. . CBS News Pittsburgh: Free 24/7 News CBS Pittsburgh App 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 . The concept of voting out or recalling the board members who vote yes on Castagna was mentioned multiple times during the meeting. 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Harris spoke with PublicSource to discuss how the atmosphere has changed and how this idea can be considered in other districts. Harris: We have layers. You just cant pull police out, that doesnt require any support. 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. 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. 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. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. During the process, Dr. Castagna earned the support of the majority of the board," said Scott. 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 served as the acting superintendent since Jan. 28. We didnt need three years worth of data to make a decision. Most of the speakers showed their support for Harris, while a few others wanted him fired. Athletics (opens in new window/tab) Buildings and Grounds; Business and Finance; Curriculum; Personnel . 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. We added a number of supports, and then we pulled the heavy beam away, and it opened everything up. 412.731.1300 ext. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. This is not a person who has actively been working to improve children's lives in the past three years," said Moon. Hed previously been charged with driving under the influence in 2008, and he was later charged again in August 2019. BECOME A MEMBER. The contact is for one year or until a new superintendent is hired, according to school board documents. Question: Can you describe the environment at Woodland Hills when the district had police officers? Q: How do you work to get beyond the belief some people have that students need police in schools? + Caption. "It's hard to find someone who hasn't had some issues. The rally is only the beginning. The students listened to their own local leaders testify, including Woodland Hills Superintendent Daniel Castagna and Aliquippa Mayor Dwan Walker. The district is holding a town hall meeting Monday at 6 p.m. at Focus on Renewal in McKees Rocks. 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. First published on November 17, 2021 / 8:50 PM. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Suspended superintendent accused of knowingly hiring man being investigated for murder. ", First published on January 28, 2022 / 9:29 PM. 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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This realization helped lead the district into phasing out police presence in their school. 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. TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox. Castagna will be the acting superintendent for one year or until a new superintendent is hired. Its finally closing. ", 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. 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." Mike Belmonte; Terri Lawson; Dr. Tammi L. McMillan, Ed.D; Darnika Reed; Carlton Scott; Bridgett . He can be reached at kellen@publicsource.org. "We're trying to . 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 thank Mr. Harris for his service as the district superintendent and will work with him to ensure a smooth transition.". sas.call("std", { Castagna replaces James Harris, who was fired in December. I have cousins who are officers, I have cousins who are in law enforcement and in the judicial system. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. "I do also believe, as Dr. Woods, in second chances," said Brandi Fisher, CEO and President of Alliance for Police Accountability. 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. On Jan. 10, 2018, he began a two-week medical leave, and the school board voted Jan. 19 to place him on paid leave. 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. You would be placing someone that many people in the community don't trust. Other speakers did not agree. Woodland Hills Online Academy; Woodland Hills Opportunity Camp; Woodland Hills Senior High School; Departments. 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. (Photo by Jay Manning/PublicSource), advocates and protestors called for removal of police from the. 50 years ago this month, we exposed a state institution. Theres a lot of professional folks in that building who helped create a better environment. Superintendent's Office; Title IX; Transcripts; Woodland Hills Foundation (opens in new window/tab) 23-24 School Calendar . Woodland Hills School District. The dispute was settled in 2018. Pittsburgh's Action News 4 repeatedly reached out to Woodland Hills Superintendent Daniel Castagna for comment for months on the charges filed against Miles. 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. "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). He served as the superintendent of West Mifflin from 2011 to 2019. Former school resource officer Stephen Shaulis was accused of excessive force for knocking out the tooth of a 14-year-old, among other incidents. "There are currently five board members who . 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. 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. You need to make sure that the students have respect for each other, respect for the teachers and respect for themselves. The district serves 12 municipalities east of Pittsburgh and enrolls about 3,300 students. Both voted against Castagnas appointment as acting superintendent in January, along with board president Mike Belmonte and Lawson. Many pointed to Castagna having been charged with driving under the influence three separate times. The board voted 5-1 to appoint Castagna as the superintendent; board member Terri Lawson abstained from voting. 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. Castagna . It was a 15-month ordeal that ended in Castagna suing the district in federal court. Could policing be reimagined in schools? Please read the update below from Superintendent James Harris regarding Wednesday's incident at the high 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. Learn more in our Cookie Policy. Now inspired by the journey, these kids hope to use this experience to make a change back in their own communities. Members . It is not . 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. 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 . Woodland Hills Online Academy; Woodland Hills Opportunity Camp; Woodland Hills Senior High School; Departments. "I appreciate the Woodland Hills School District giving me this opportunity to serve as its acting superintendent," Dr. Castagna said in the release. He joined the call on zoom. 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. Interim Superintendent Haunted Hills hay rides there are special effects, but nobody thought somebody got shot, then I turned over and the dude is just there, laid out, had got shot, said Che Hawkins, a Clairton City sophomore. JAMES P. HARRIS JR., the new superintendent of the Woodland Hills School District, fields questions from reporters after being sworn-in, Aug. Then it got down to one [officer]. Q: How were you able to get staff, students and families on board? email: hawtte@whsd.net How do you work beyond the notion that people will take advantage of a school environment without police presence? Ensure on-site staff are complying with plans and safety requirements. Castagna's appointment carries a term of one year or until the district hires a new superintendent. Just having a stabler, calmer environment; we had less blow-ups between students and staff. People should have the opportunity to reinvent themselves and prove themselves. Does Woodland Hills collect data around arrests and citations? 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. 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. 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. 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. Superintendent's Office; Title IX; Transcripts; Woodland Hills Foundation (opens in new window/tab) 23-24 School Calendar . West Mifflin accused Castagna of asking employees to complete private work on school district time and lying about his DUI history. About 30 students . Q: How long did Woodland Hills not have school police prior to shutting down because of COVID-19 in March? And now, we realize we dont need any. 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.