Woodland Hills Foundation (opens in new window/tab) 23-24 School Calendar; Superintendent's Office . I just dont think thats the job for them to do thats for the principal, teachers and counselors in the schools to do. "This isn't blowing over with me," said Tina Doose, a Braddock mother of seven children, three of whom have graduated from the district and three that are currently enrolled within it. Especially after we have had time to demonstrate change," she said. pageId: 726593, // Page : Woodland_Hills/ros He had been charged with a DUI in 2008 and in 2019. Our teachers are tired of it, our students are tired of it, our parents are most definitely tired of it," said one student. 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. 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. Superintendent's Office; Title IX; Transcripts; Woodland Hills Foundation (opens in new window/tab) 23-24 School Calendar . / CBS Pittsburgh. The board voted 8 to 1 to terminate James Harris without cause during a meeting on Wednesday. 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. I think we can change it, it can change," said Carter Lance, a Penn Hills junior. Theres a lot of professional folks in that building who helped create a better environment. 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. Make a gift of $7/month or more to get yours today! I think we can change it, it can change, said Carter Lance, a Penn Hills junior. Harris told KDKA that the school board president, vice president and school solicitor asked him to resign on Tuesday. Members . Woodland Hills School District. Please enter valid email address to continue. Q: How are challenges addressed and solved now? 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. 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. 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 . 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. West Mifflin officials could not immediately be reached for comment. Imagine decreasing that infraction rate almost 70%. This article first appeared in a February 02, 2022 issue of The Valley Mirror. . Immediately, he had the officers trade their bulletproof vests for khakis and polo shirts. Other speakers did not agree. And now, we realize we dont need any. 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. Hed previously been charged with driving under the influence in 2008, and he was later charged again in August 2019. 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. We knew week-to-week, we can see changes based on the minor adjustments that we were doing. In the high school world, thats just two 16-year-olds being buddies. Castagna's appointment carries a term of one year or until the district hires a new superintendent. PublishedNovember 17, 2021 at 9:53 PM EST. From early learning to higher education, Sarah is interested in students and educators working to create more equitable systems. Instead, I simply found that he co-owns a bar that has been shut down for covid violations. 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. Q: In the 2018-19 school year, there were 1,381 students enrolled at Woodland Hills Jr./Sr. 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. 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. Help us inform people in the Pittsburgh region with more stories like this support our nonprofit newsroom with a donation. 2023 Cox Media Group. Phillip Woods, former principal, and current superintendent at Aliquippa, stated, "It's hard listening to the comments and the judgment of Dr. Daniel Castagna. Board members did not say what prompted the termination. 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. We added a number of supports, and then we pulled the heavy beam away, and it opened everything up. You dont need police to control the hallways at school to keep it calm. "There are currently five board members who . A few others said that they supported a move to fire him. First published on November 17, 2021 / 8:50 PM. "The result of what some of us believe was a hasty and unwarranted action was a loss of public trust." 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. However, we have a terrible image problem. Woodland Hills Golf & Country Club is an 18-hole, 6390 yard, par 72 championship golf course and country club. I have cousins who are officers, I have cousins who are in law enforcement and in the judicial system. The violence continues to touch and impact the youth of our area. Woodland Hills is a very special place, and I am proud to be a part of this family. CBS News Pittsburgh: Free 24/7 News CBS Pittsburgh App (Photo by Jay Manning/PublicSource), advocates and protestors called for removal of police from the. 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. 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. Interim Superintendent I look forward to seeing our district succeed.. The school board, staff and communitys belief in me is something I will never take for granted.. BECOME A MEMBER. Several community members and parents spoke in favor of Harris during public comment before the vote. Castagna has served as the acting superintendent since Jan. 28. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Superintendent James Harris of the Woodland Hills School District. Castagna has served as the acting superintendent since Jan. 28. West Mifflin accused Castagna of asking employees to complete private work on school district time and lying about his DUI history. As a result, the district moved to virtual learning for two days in October. District officials defended his hiring following a meeting that saw hours of public comments. 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. Athletics (opens in new window/tab) Buildings and Grounds; Business and Finance; Curriculum; Personnel . 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. Please read the update below from Superintendent James Harris regarding Wednesday's incident at the high school. Q: How were you able to get staff, students and families on board? Most of the speakers showed their support for Harris, while a few others wanted him fired. 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. 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. ONLY ON 11: We were there as students from Woodland Hills, Penn Hills & Clairton traveled to Harrisburg to talk gun violence.Hear the personal impacts and desire for change from those teens on @WPXI at 6:15pm. You would be placing someone that many people in the community don't trust. In the early 2000s, Woodland Hills was losing about 400 kids a year to charter schools. Kellen Stepler is an editorial intern for PublicSource. Dr. Daniel Castagna Superintendent Email: castda@whsd.us Superintendent Bio. The district said Harris' last day will be Dec. 17th and the search for a new superintendent starts immediately. It made it less confrontational, it made it less tense and those are words that students have used with me when I asked them a couple years ago, when I got here. PITTSBURGH After four fights last week led to remote learning for Woodland Hills High School, students returned to the classrooms Monday with new rules. He was placed on unpaid leave July 2 pending termination. The Woodland Hills School District webpage has moved to www.whsd.net, Please visit the new website for updated information. 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. siteId: 126296, // PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Parents concerned Woodland Hills moving to hire new superintendent with checkered past. This realization helped lead the district into phasing out police presence in their school. I am humbled and honored by the opportunity to serve the students of the Woodland Hills School District community as its Superintendent, Castagna said. How can these other districts replicate this given their own circumstances? Just over 24 hours after being asked for his resignation, the Woodland Hills School Board voted to terminate Superintendent James P. Harris's . 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. He had been charged with a DUI in 2008 and in 2019. Strategic Plan Midpoint - Professional Education. 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. 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. After an 8-1 vote, Harris stood up from his seat at the table and left the meeting. 412.731.1300 ext. I am humbled and honored by the opportunity to serve the students of the Woodland Hills School District community as its Superintendent, Castagna said. He . 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. ", First published on January 28, 2022 / 9:29 PM. "We have made a commitment to provide a wide range of support systems to our students," Woodland Hills Superintendent Dr. Daniel Castagna said. Harris: Its less tense. Woodland Hills is a very special place, and I am proud to be a part of this family, Castagna said. I am here to help that happen. 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. You need to make sure that the students have respect for each other, respect for the teachers and respect for themselves. formatId: 34956, // Format : IAB Leaderboard 728x90 The faces of victims of gun violence were held tight by students and loved ones on the steps of the state capitol. "Mr. Harris has consistently lied to us, to the media, to our parents, to our students, to our teachers. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. Doose was the final registered speaker of the night before the public comment section opened up. Question: Can you describe the environment at Woodland Hills when the district had police officers? 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. Then it got down to one [officer]. "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. Interim Superintendent email: castda@whsd.net 412.731.1300 ext. If youre remodeling your house and theres a support beam, you dont just knock that beam out because you dont want it there, you have to put supports around it. This small Wilkinsburg private school wants to grow into a 'village' in the community, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. 0183. 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. ", He said that the students' behavior would not be tolerated, "and we will be doing a better job in becoming proactive moving forward.". The Woodland Hills school board abruptly fired its superintendent Wednesday night. Harris: This is the first year we have no police. 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." 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 . 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. 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. Some speakers said Harris helped improve district and student achievement. 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. Thats the key to removing the police. 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. + Caption. 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. "Why are we not looking internally," asked Jennifer Alfieri, a registered speaker, and parent. Athletics (opens in new window/tab) Buildings and Grounds; Business and Finance; Curriculum; Personnel . We still have our counselors, our behavioral interventionists and a great leadership staff in the building. . This is the first time in district history, a 41-year time period, that property taxes have been reduced. I was never trained in the military police academy to patrol a high school. Instead of us going to the principals office and talking through our issue and shaking hands and going back to class, theres now a summons involved, then a court appearance. 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. Links. "But I am also a foster mom, mother, and child care educator for the past 18 years. Learn more in our Cookie Policy. The Woodland Hills School District board of directors voted to approve a budget plan that would reduce property taxes. I know his heart, I know his mind, and I know his ability." Castagna has not responded. January 28, 2022 / 9:29 PM 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. 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 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.. Pittsburgh's Action News 4 repeatedly reached out to Woodland Hills Superintendent Daniel Castagna for comment for months on the charges filed against Miles. "We have many wonderful teachers. Woodland Hills senior Desmon Jackson said whatever the intent was, it was hurtful. That frees up the administration to do other things. Hawkins witnessed the chaos and death of a Steven Eason, a Central Catholic student who was shot in 2021. email: hawtte@whsd.net How do you work beyond the notion that people will take advantage of a school environment without police presence? 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. 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? You can update your choices at any time in your settings. Do you need that data to understand the problems, or were you just able to take action? Both voted against Castagnas appointment as acting superintendent in January, along with board president Mike Belmonte and Lawson. Students, parents, coaches and community leaders shared their opinions with the board. He can be reached at kellen@publicsource.org. The officers prior to us getting here would be involved in the day-to-day happenings with what was going on with the students. Justice Thomas Caulfield swore Castanga in as the new Woodland Hills superintendent. Scott then welcomed Castagna to the district before the official vote was taken. A lot of people in the community are upset about it. Select Accept to consent or Reject to decline non-essential cookies for this use. What we did not want to have continue to happen was the criminalization of adolescent behavior. "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.". 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 . Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. Covid guidelines and mandates have been controversial during the pandemic, but Woodland Hills' covid procedures and requirements regarding distancing and mask-wearing are strict. Email news@wesa.fm. / CBS Pittsburgh. Through the course of the night, people stood up to plead with the board against hiring Castagna. Harris: The phased-out approach it showed not having a need. Sarah Schneider is WESA's education reporter. We have many wonderful programs for our students. It was . 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. Parents are involved, its a $200 to $300 fine, which is silly when all I had to do was resolve it would be a handshake and, Hey, dont smack me anymore.. He said the experience has changed him and because of that, he wanted to make the trip to Harrisburg. We thank Mr. Harris for his service as the district superintendent and will work with him to ensure a smooth transition.. 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." Harris walked out of the meeting right after the board voted. target: '' // Targeting 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. "My wife and I are graduates of this district, and we are fierce defenders of this school district, but this is indefensible. 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. 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. 10:24 AM. 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. 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. They awarded damages worth $2.95 million on Monday. "I appreciate the Woodland Hills School District giving me this opportunity to serve as its acting superintendent," Castagna said in a statement. West Mifflin accused Castagna of asking employees to complete private work on school district time and lying about his DUI history. If we cant de-escalate a situation, then no one really can. NORTH BRADDOCK, Pa. The Woodland Hills School District has officially appointed Dr. Daniel Castagna as thedistricts new superintendent. Just having a stabler, calmer environment; we had less blow-ups between students and staff. Woodland Hills Online Academy; Woodland Hills Opportunity Camp; Woodland Hills Senior High School; Departments. He is not eligible for any benefits but will be paid $615 per day. Messages: April 5th . The former West Mifflin superintendent who was fired after his second DUI case has been hired by the Woodland Hills School District. 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. We didnt need three years worth of data to make a decision. Superintendents Bio. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here so far and will continue to partner with our districts talented staff and dedicated community. TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox. So, it was a gradual approach to removal.

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