woodland hills superintendent

NORTH BRADDOCK, Pa. The Woodland Hills School District has officially appointed Dr. Daniel Castagna as the district's new superintendent. Castagna replaces James Harris, who was fired in December. "It's detrimental. Q: As police presence phased out, has anything surprised you? I think we can change it, it can change," said Carter Lance, a Penn Hills junior. James Harris: The administrators who were there prior really relied on police intervention to help manage behavioral problems and discipline within the building. 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. siteId: 126296, // "We have many wonderful teachers. 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. "Why are we not looking internally," asked Jennifer Alfieri, a registered speaker, and parent. 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.. NORTH BRADDOCK, Pa. (KDKA) -- The Woodland Hills school board has voted to terminate its superintendent. 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. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. "We have made a commitment to provide a wide range of support systems to our students," Woodland Hills Superintendent Dr. Daniel Castagna said. Immediately, he had the officers trade their bulletproof vests for khakis and polo shirts. Please take a moment to read this message from Woodland Hills Superintendent Dr. Daniel Castagna. The board voted 8 to 1 to terminate James Harris without cause during a meeting on Wednesday. Woodland Hills senior Desmon Jackson said whatever the intent was, it was hurtful. "My organization is all about second chances; we even hire previously incarcerated individuals. I am humbled and honored by the opportunity to serve the students of the Woodland Hills School District community as its superintendent, Castagna said. NOW PLAYING ABOVE. Woodland Hills is a very special place, and I am proud to be a part of this family. 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 . Its detrimental. You can update your choices at any time in your settings. Scott stated that the candidates from within the school district were looked at but were not qualified since they did not have working experience as superintendents. 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. The board reorganization meeting is Dec. 6. The tone of the night changed briefly when Castagna's only non-school board public supporter stood up to speak. Now inspired by the journey, these kids hope to use this experience to make a change back in their own communities. As the General Manager and Superintendent, I lead all aspects of operations with a . Select Accept to consent or Reject to decline non-essential cookies for this use. He said the experience has changed him and because of that, he wanted to make the trip to Harrisburg. Woodland Hills Foundation (opens in new window/tab) 23-24 School Calendar; Superintendent's Office . In recent weeks, several fights have broken out at the district's high school. Jul 2018 - Jul 20213 years 1 month. Interim Superintendent Members . 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. This is not a person who has actively been working to improve children's lives in the past three years," said Moon. As a result, the district moved to virtual learning for two days in October. Woods described growing up with Castagna and being mentored by him. Scott then welcomed Castagna to the district before the official vote was taken. First published on November 17, 2021 / 8:50 PM. 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.. 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. 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. 412.731.1300 ext. Many teachers, and I'll say many of the board members, have been that to my children and to the children of the district. Athletics (opens in new window/tab) Buildings and Grounds; Business and Finance; Curriculum; Personnel . West Mifflin schools fired Castagna in 2019 after his second DUI case. 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. We didnt need three years worth of data to make a decision. 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. 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. 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. West Mifflin officials could not immediately be reached for comment. 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. 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 . So, it was a gradual approach to removal. 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. Woodland Hills School District. We knew week-to-week, we can see changes based on the minor adjustments that we were doing. TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox. If we could do more things like this and have the community wrap around us and this problem. People should have the opportunity to reinvent themselves and prove themselves. 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. 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. Its finally closing. Please choose someone else.". 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 make an environment thats friendly and welcoming. 0183, Teresa M. Hawthorne 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Do you feel more informed? 0183. Parents have to feel welcome when they go into the schools, students have to feel welcome. 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. ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. . Q: In the 2018-19 school year, there were 1,381 students enrolled at Woodland Hills Jr./Sr. The school district announced on May 25 that Castagna would officially be head of the district from May 26, 2022, to May 25, 2027. "I do also believe, as Dr. Woods, in second chances," said Brandi Fisher, CEO and President of Alliance for Police Accountability. . I know his heart, I know his mind, and I know his ability." "It doesn't make sense to me that we are even considering this person as a superintendent at the school district," said Dan Miller, one of the registered speakers at the meeting. January 28, 2022 / 9:29 PM This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. 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.. Just having a stabler, calmer environment; we had less blow-ups between students and staff. Castagna was hired by the district in 2007 and served as superintendent from 2011 through 2018. 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. 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. 0183. "As a mom, it's important that my children have examples - have role models. He had been charged with a DUI in 2008 and in 2019. 412.731.1300 ext. Your vote tonight will be reflected in your record, and we will note it when you are up for election again.". Castagna has served as the districts acting superintendent since late January, following the school boards decision to terminate superintendent James Harris contract in December2021. Help us inform people in the Pittsburgh region with more stories like this support our nonprofit newsroom with a donation. Just over 24 hours after being asked for his resignation, the Woodland Hills School Board voted to terminate Superintendent James P. Harris's . We have peer-to-peer [counseling], we have teacher-to-student [counseling], we have behavioral interventions, we have counseling, we have assistant principals, we have principals, we have myself. pic.twitter.com/l73WMgdWIs, Nicole Ford (@NicoleFordTV) March 23, 2023. Harris: You have to go building by building, and you have to empower the building leadership to make decisions. They need to feel like they have a voice and that they are being listened to. How do you feel this change can be scaled or replicated for other districts who may have fewer resources or a larger population, like PPS, with an enrollment of 6,263 grades 9-12? 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. (Photo by Jay Manning/PublicSource), advocates and protestors called for removal of police from the. 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. 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. And now, we realize we dont need any. That frees up the administration to do other things. So, for that I do apologize. 0183 The Woodland Hills School District Welcomes Dr. Daniel Castagna as Interim Superintendent. Pittsburgh's Action News 4 repeatedly reached out to Woodland Hills Superintendent Daniel Castagna for comment for months on the charges filed against Miles. Board President Jamie Glaser read the motion to terminate James Harris without cause effective Dec. 17. Phillip Woods, former principal, and current superintendent at Aliquippa, stated, "It's hard listening to the comments and the judgment of 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. Our teachers are tired of it, our students are tired of it, our parents are most definitely tired of it," said one student. 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. "But I am also a foster mom, mother, and child care educator for the past 18 years. 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. Please read the update below from Superintendent James Harris regarding Wednesday's incident at the high school. 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). 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 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. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group.

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