Justice Thomas Caulfield swore Castanga in as the new Woodland Hills superintendent. Several community members and parents spoke in favor of Harris during public comment before the vote. We still have our counselors, our behavioral interventionists and a great leadership staff in the building. Woodland Hills is a very special place, and I am proud to be a part of this family, Castagna said. ", Speakers from the public comment section were quick to remind board members that they are representatives of the community, that it was their job to listen to their constituents, and that they could be voted out just as quickly as they were voted in. 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 school district announced on May 25 that Castagna would officially be head of the district from May 26, 2022, to May 25, 2027. I am here to help that happen.". "That was never the intent. Ensure on-site staff are complying with plans and safety requirements. You dont need police to control the hallways at school to keep it calm. Peters Township School District Investigating Allegations - CBS News 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. Harris walked out of the meeting right after the board voted. Woodland Hills School District approves teacher cuts, tax reduction - MSN 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. Patrick Varine is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Woodland Hills Superintendent James Harris Says He Will Fight - YouTube The tone of the night changed briefly when Castagna's only non-school board public supporter stood up to speak. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here so far and will continue to partner with our districts talented staff and dedicated community. "It's detrimental. . 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. Board members did not say what prompted the termination. (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 . 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 . 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. 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. The faces of victims of gun violence were held tight by students and loved ones on the steps of the state capitol. Parents have to feel welcome when they go into the schools, students have to feel welcome. We thank Mr. Harris for his service as the district superintendent and will work with him to ensure a smooth transition.". In the early 2000s, Woodland Hills was losing about 400 kids a year to charter schools. You can update your choices at any time in your settings. Superintendent's Office; Title IX; Transcripts; Woodland Hills Foundation (opens in new window/tab) 23-24 School Calendar . "We have people internally. "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. Dave Gremmels - General Manager, Superintendent - Woodland Hills Golf Q: How were you able to get staff, students and families on board? 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 have a great faculty in place and the students in our district are capable of delivering great things. Harris: Im not anti-police. Mike Belmonte; Terri Lawson; Dr. Tammi L. McMillan, Ed.D; Darnika Reed; Carlton Scott; Bridgett . Harris told KDKA that the school board president, vice president and school solicitor asked him to resign on Tuesday. I was never trained in the military police academy to patrol a high school. 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. If we could do more things like this and have the community wrap around us and this problem. target: '' // Targeting Castagna will be the acting superintendent for one year or until a new superintendent is hired. He joined the call on zoom. 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. The students listened to their own local leaders testify, including Woodland Hills Superintendent Daniel Castagna and Aliquippa Mayor Dwan Walker. Pa. superintendent with 3 DUI arrests is hired amid protests: 'It's 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. 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. 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. On Jan. 10, 2018, he began a two-week medical leave, and the school board voted Jan. 19 to place him on paid leave. 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. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Q: How has your background as a military police officer shaped the way you handle discipline at Woodland Hills? 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. 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. Video shows principal holding a student's head while he's shocked with email: castda@whsd.net Students return to Woodland Hills High School with new rules - WPXI How can these other districts replicate this given their own circumstances? He said the experience has changed him and because of that, he wanted to make the trip to Harrisburg. The conversation with Harris has been edited and condensed for brevity and clarity. In the high school world, thats just two 16-year-olds being buddies. The agreements were approved by the Woodland Hills School District Board of School Directors during their legislative meeting on January 18, 2023. 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. Woodland Hills senior Desmon Jackson said whatever the intent was, it was hurtful. Executive Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent 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. 0183, Teresa M. Hawthorne 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. 22-23 School Calendar - Woodland Hills School District 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. 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. Former school resource officer Stephen Shaulis was accused of excessive force for knocking out the tooth of a 14-year-old, among other incidents. Woodland Hills Online Academy; Woodland Hills Opportunity Camp; Woodland Hills Senior High School; Departments. 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. Doose was the final registered speaker of the night before the public comment section opened up. We knew week-to-week, we can see changes based on the minor adjustments that we were doing. 35 years later, we take a look at the impact of the - PublicSource Castagna . He can be reached at kellen@publicsource.org. Rontez Miles appears before North Versailles judge 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. "I appreciate the Woodland Hills School District giving me this opportunity to serve as its acting superintendent," Dr. Castagna said in the release. Dr. Daniel Castagna Superintendent Email: castda@whsd.us Superintendent Bio. From early learning to higher education, Sarah is interested in students and educators working to create more equitable systems. 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. 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). pageId: 726593, // Page : Woodland_Hills/ros This spacious zippered tote with a design by local artist Andrea Shockling represents different Pittsburghers walks of life, just like we strive for our nonprofit newsrooms journalism to do. 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. Most of the speakers showed their support for Harris, while a few others wanted him fired. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Parents concerned Woodland Hills moving to hire new superintendent with checkered past. January 28, 2022 / 9:29 PM You need to make sure that the students have respect for each other, respect for the teachers and respect for themselves. "My organization is all about second chances; we even hire previously incarcerated individuals. The officers prior to us getting here would be involved in the day-to-day happenings with what was going on with the students. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The bar Castagna co-owns, Cosmo on Carson, was cited in 2020 for lack of face coverings, failure to physically distance customers, and serving alcohol without a meal. Jury orders West Mifflin School District to pay $2.9M to former 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. "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. NORTH BRADDOCK, Pa. The Woodland Hills School District has officially appointed Dr. Daniel Castagna as thedistricts new superintendent. In his subsequent lawsuit, Castagna argued he was targeted and eventually fired because of political differences with several school board members. Athletics (opens in new window/tab) Buildings and Grounds; Business and Finance; Curriculum; Personnel . It is not . Change your mind. Castagna, in a statement released by his attorney, thanked the jurors. Castagna has served as the acting superintendent since Jan. 28. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Students, parents, coaches and community leaders shared their opinions with the board. "If you all vote tonight to remove this great man, this great leader, you are making a bad decision, a real bad decision. 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 working with the school board, administrators, teachers, staff, students, and families so that together we can achieve excellence on every level. About 30 students . Q: How do you work to get beyond the belief some people have that students need police in schools? 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. "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. NORTH BRADDOCK, Pa. (KDKA) -- The Woodland Hills school board has voted to terminate its superintendent. 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. "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. I am here to help that happen. Could policing be reimagined in schools? Q: How are challenges addressed and solved now? 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. Email news@wesa.fm. "Our plan is to continue to provide this relief," Superintendent Dr. Daniel Castagna said. Woodland Hills Online Academy; Woodland Hills Opportunity Camp; Woodland Hills Senior High School; Departments. Woodland Hills is a very special place, and I am proud to be a part of this family. Harris spoke with PublicSource to discuss how the atmosphere has changed and how this idea can be considered in other districts. Key Responsibilities: Supervise on-site activities. First published on November 17, 2021 / 8:50 PM. Woodland Hills Superintendent James Harris said he was shocked when he was asked to resign. 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. 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. Staff Page - Woodland Hills School District 2550 Greensburg Pike, Pittsburgh, PA 15218. Just having a stabler, calmer environment; we had less blow-ups between students and staff.