Superintendents Bio. We thank Mr. Harris for his service as the district superintendent and will work with him to ensure a smooth transition.. Could policing be reimagined in schools? Harris told KDKA before the meeting that he plans to fight the decision. Harris: Its less tense. 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. Its finally closing. Patrick Varine is a Tribune-Review staff writer. 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. As a result, the district moved to virtual learning for two days in October. Key Responsibilities: Supervise on-site activities. I dont see the reason why I should be here. It was the last meeting for three board members. Q: Why is it important for students, especially now in our world, to have that support and go to a school where they feel welcome? / CBS Pittsburgh. Staff Page - Woodland Hills School District Help us inform people in the Pittsburgh region with more stories like this support our nonprofit newsroom with a donation. I am here to help that happen.". Students, parents, coaches and community leaders shared their opinions with the board. Wednesday night's meeting got heated before the vote. Woodland Hills is a very special place, and I am proud to be a part of this family. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. Woodland Hills Superintendent James Harris Says He Will Fight - YouTube "It's hard to find someone who hasn't had some issues. 35 years later, we take a look at the impact of the - PublicSource 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. However, with the redesign of the high school and a lot of our buildings are safer, theyre harder to get in if youre an outside person trying to do some bad stuff in a school. He is not eligible for any benefits but will be paid $615 per day. When you introduce a law enforcement officer into a situation, theres very little gray involved; its either black or white. Castagna replaces James Harris, who was fired in December. It comes as the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee is holding its first discussion in more than a decade on laws related to guns. Superintendent Johnson said the numbers have been static in the last three years; they're getting just as many back as they lose. Neither Scott nor Currie could be immediately reached for comment. He had been charged with a DUI in 2008 and in 2019. Its detrimental. "There are currently five board members who . Former Daniel Boone superintendent hired by western Pa - The Mercury The board voted 8 to 1 to terminate James Harris without cause during a meeting on Wednesday. This small Wilkinsburg private school wants to grow into a 'village' in the community, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. 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. 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. This position is a position of public trust. People should have the opportunity to reinvent themselves and prove themselves. As the General Manager and Superintendent, I lead all aspects of operations with a . 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. 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. 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. "Mr. Harris has consistently lied to us, to the media, to our parents, to our students, to our teachers. Rontez Miles appears before North Versailles judge NORTH BRADDOCK, Pa. (KDKA) -- The Woodland Hills school board has voted to terminate its superintendent. He joined the call on zoom. 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. 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 . 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. Castagna has served as the acting superintendent since Jan. 28. sas.setup({ domain: 'https://www5.smartadserver.com'}); When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. Caught On CCTV: Principal Holds Student's Head As He's Shot With - NDTV "Our plan is to continue to provide this relief," Superintendent Dr. Daniel Castagna said. "That action often gave the impression that we were downplaying the severity of the incident," the letter states. Make a gift of $7/month or more to get yours today! "We have people internally. 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 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. Harris: We have layers. Please take a moment to read this message from Woodland Hills Superintendent Dr. Daniel Castagna. It was a 15-month ordeal that ended in Castagna suing the district in federal court. Harris was hired in 2018 as the district was under the spotlight after its school police were accused of using excessive force. Athletics (opens in new window/tab) Buildings and Grounds; Business and Finance; Curriculum; Personnel . 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. How do you work beyond the notion that people will take advantage of a school environment without police presence? NORTH BRADDOCK, Pa. The Woodland Hills School District has officially appointed Dr. Daniel Castagna as the district's new superintendent. Harris: Any business or any organization wants people to feel welcome, but the students have a lot of needs, and so do staff. 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." 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. 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. We didnt do that; thats not our role. If we could do more things like this and have the community wrap around us and this problem. Strategic Plan Midpoint - Professional Education. 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. Your vote tonight will be reflected in your record, and we will note it when you are up for election again.". The Woodland Hills School District board of directors voted to approve a budget plan that would reduce property taxes. Castagna will be the acting superintendent for one year or until a new superintendent is hired. Harris told KDKA that the school board president, vice president and school solicitor asked him to resign on Tuesday. Our teachers are tired of it, our students are tired of it, our parents are most definitely tired of it," said one student. Superintendent - 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. Other speakers did not agree. TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox. Woodland Hills School District names Dr. Daniel Castagna as superintendent Board President Jamie Glaser read the motion to terminate James Harris without cause effective Dec. 17. The board voted 8 to 1 to terminate Harris without a cause after he came under criticism for his handling of fights at the high school. Select Accept to consent or Reject to decline non-essential cookies for this use. Jul 2018 - Jul 20213 years 1 month. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. Q: How are challenges addressed and solved now? I look forward to seeing our district succeed.. ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. . 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. Last year, pre-COVID, we were down about 70% in our incidences. 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 . First published on November 17, 2021 / 8:50 PM. Pa. superintendent with 3 DUI arrests is hired amid protests: 'It's Many teachers, and I'll say many of the board members, have been that to my children and to the children of the district. We thank Mr. Harris for his service as the district superintendent and will work with him to ensure a smooth transition.". The board voted 8 to 1 to terminate James Harris without cause during a meeting on Wednesday. He can be reached at kellen@publicsource.org. The board voted 8-1 to remove James Harris without cause. 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. Castagna later sued the school district after they released a list of grievances againsthim. Woodland Hills School Board Votes To Terminate Superintendent James Just having a stabler, calmer environment; we had less blow-ups between students and staff. Then it got down to one [officer]. We still have our counselors, our behavioral interventionists and a great leadership staff in the building. "We're trying to . "If you all vote tonight to remove this great man, this great leader, you are making a bad decision, a real bad decision. Together, his classmates, along with Woodland Hills and Penn Hills students, listened and felt the pain of survivors who shared their stories. Covid guidelines and mandates have been controversial during the pandemic, but Woodland Hills' covid procedures and requirements regarding distancing and mask-wearing are strict. May 25, 2022 at 10:51 pm EDT. 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. PublishedNovember 17, 2021 at 9:53 PM EST. Castagna was hired by the district in 2007 and served as superintendent from 2011 through 2018. West Mifflin schools fired Castagna in 2019 after his second DUI case. Peters Township School District Investigating Allegations - CBS News "We have many wonderful teachers. 50 years ago this month, we exposed a state institution. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Parents concerned Woodland Hills moving to hire new superintendent with checkered past. Former Woodland Hills superintendent responds to new documents - WTAE "But I am also a foster mom, mother, and child care educator for the past 18 years. She can be reached at sschneider@wesa.fm. Scott then welcomed Castagna to the district before the official vote was taken. That's who I cared about, and that's who you should care about.". Very rarely were they ever called, so the officers sat in the office all day. During the process, Dr. Castagna earned the support of the majority of the board," said Scott. The conversation with Harris has been edited and condensed for brevity and clarity. Q: How long did Woodland Hills not have school police prior to shutting down because of COVID-19 in March? Woods described growing up with Castagna and being mentored by him. 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. This is not a person who has actively been working to improve children's lives in the past three years," said Moon. While they were still identified as police, this would be the beginning of a culture shift when it came to policing at Woodland Hills. Teresa M. Hawthorne Executive Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent email: hawtte @whsd.net 412.731.1300 ext. 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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). Superintendent's Office; Title IX; Transcripts; Woodland Hills Foundation (opens in new window/tab) 23-24 School Calendar . I look forward to seeing our district succeed.. Members . I am humbled and honored by the opportunity to serve the students of the Woodland Hills School District community as its superintendent, Castagna said. A statement from the board said that it would begin a search for a new leader immediately. Castagna, in a statement released by his attorney, thanked the jurors. Local students gather at state capitol, make plea for an end to gun "My organization is all about second chances; we even hire previously incarcerated individuals. 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. A few others said that they supported a move to fire him. 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. Harris: The phased-out approach it showed not having a need. 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. 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. 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.. On Jan. 10, 2018, he began a two-week medical leave, and the school board voted Jan. 19 to place him on paid leave. Five students sued the district in federal court, Pennsylvania Senate votes to ban safe injection sites, Dollar Bank says ATM 'skimmer' breached some users' card data, urges customers to monitor accounts, After School Satan Club near Allentown gets go-ahead from judge, Former Amazon exec wants to bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S., starting in New Kensington, Polio vaccine pioneer Jonas Salk's archives 'come home' to the University of Pittsburgh, Sto-Rox School District seeks public input on financial recovery plans, Pa. Dem lawmakers renew push to expand teacher certification, in-state tuition for DACA recipients, Pittsburgh Public Schools will use grant funds to send security guards to a police academy. JAMES P. HARRIS JR., the new superintendent of the Woodland Hills School District, fields questions from reporters after being sworn-in, Aug. Email news@wesa.fm. Woodland Hills superintendent describes benefits of - PublicSource 15. West Mifflin accused Castagna of asking employees to complete private work on school district time and lying about his DUI history. You have to make an environment thats friendly and welcoming. Thats the key to removing the police. I implore you not to hire the candidate for the interim position of superintendent. This article first appeared in a February 02, 2022 issue of The Valley Mirror. The district serves 12 municipalities east of Pittsburgh and enrolls about 3,300 students. 22-23 School Calendar - Woodland Hills School 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. 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. 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. 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. I know his heart, I know his mind, and I know his ability." We have a great faculty in place, and the students in our district are capable of delivering great things. Mike Belmonte; Terri Lawson; Dr. Tammi L. McMillan, Ed.D; Darnika Reed; Carlton Scott; Bridgett . The board voted 5-1 to appoint Castagna as the superintendent; board member Terri Lawson abstained from voting. Castagna has served as the acting superintendent since Jan. 28. ", He said that the students' behavior would not be tolerated, "and we will be doing a better job in becoming proactive moving forward.". What we did was instead of having police show up for something, we have mental health people, we have behavioral interventionists, we have principals, were all trained, teachers who are trained to de-escalate and talk to the students and community members, so that they do feel that theyre in a place of shelter. 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. Former school resource officer Stephen Shaulis was accused of excessive force for knocking out the tooth of a 14-year-old, among other incidents. The faces of victims of gun violence were held tight by students and loved ones on the steps of the state capitol. CBS News Pittsburgh: Free 24/7 News CBS Pittsburgh App 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. The officers prior to us getting here would be involved in the day-to-day happenings with what was going on with the students. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. The students listened to their own local leaders testify, including Woodland Hills Superintendent Daniel Castagna and Aliquippa Mayor Dwan Walker. 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. In the early 2000s, Woodland Hills was losing about 400 kids a year to charter schools. Q: How were you able to get staff, students and families on board? Sarah Schneider is WESA's education reporter. 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.. Just over 24 hours after being asked for his resignation, the Woodland Hills School Board voted to terminate Superintendent James P. Harris's . Kellen Stepler is an editorial intern for PublicSource. Mike Belmonte; Terri Lawson; Dr. Tammi L. McMillan, Ed.D; Darnika Reed; Carlton Scott; Bridgett . Harris walked out of the meeting right after the board voted. That frees up the administration to do other things. When I met with students at the high school, they said they understood the reason why we would have police for outside threats because of the way society is moving. Learn more in our Cookie Policy. We have many wonderful programs for our students. 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. Have a tip for the WESA newsroom? 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. I can understand that we don't always make the best decisions, and that shouldn't follow us for the rest of our lives.
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