woodland hills superintendent

I dont see the reason why I should be here. Castagna has not responded. 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. We thank Mr. Harris for his service as the district superintendent and will work with him to ensure a smooth transition.". Members . 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. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. Woodland Hills Foundation (opens in new window/tab) 23-24 School Calendar; Superintendent's Office . PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Parents concerned Woodland Hills moving to hire new superintendent with checkered past. Woodland Hills four-year graduation rate in the 2014-15 school year was just above 80 percent. Woodland Hills School District officials voted 8-1 in November 2021 to terminate the contract of Superintendent James Harris effective December 17. Woodland Hills High School - Facebook Woodland Hills Superintendent James Harris said there were several racially insensitive moments directed . Harris walked out of the meeting right after the board voted. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. 0183. He is not eligible for any benefits but will be paid $615 per day. }); Dr. Daniel Castagna 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. Castagna has served as the acting superintendent since Jan. 28. Messages: April 5th . 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. 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. 412.731.1300 ext. I look forward to seeing our district succeed.. Then it got down to one [officer]. "That was never the intent. Superintendent Johnson said the numbers have been static in the last three years; they're getting just as many back as they lose. Harris: Its less tense. 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. Jul 2018 - Jul 20213 years 1 month. Many teachers, and I'll say many of the board members, have been that to my children and to the children of the district. 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. ", First published on January 28, 2022 / 9:29 PM. NORTH BRADDOCK, Pa. The Woodland Hills School District has officially appointed Dr. Daniel Castagna as thedistricts new superintendent. Q: How has your background as a military police officer shaped the way you handle discipline at Woodland Hills? Links. Please read the update below from Superintendent James Harris regarding Wednesday's incident at the high school. As the General Manager and Superintendent, I lead all aspects of operations with a . 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. Nov 17, 2021. 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. He . The board reorganization meeting is Dec. 6. Parents have to feel welcome when they go into the schools, students have to feel welcome. 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.. ", 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. New superintendent James P. Harris Jr. ready to make big changes at Covid guidelines and mandates have been controversial during the pandemic, but Woodland Hills' covid procedures and requirements regarding distancing and mask-wearing are strict. I was never trained in the military police academy to patrol a high school. It is not . Help us inform people in the Pittsburgh region with more stories like this support our nonprofit newsroom with a donation. 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. pic.twitter.com/l73WMgdWIs, Nicole Ford (@NicoleFordTV) March 23, 2023. I look forward to seeing our district succeed.. As a result, the district moved to virtual learning for two days in October. Former Woodland Hills School District superintendent James Harris is speaking out after Pittsburgh's Action News 4 obtained new documents regarding his firing. ", Speakers after Woods agreed that many people do make mistakes and deserve second chances but felt that Castagna has already had the opportunity to learn from his mistakes and failed to live up to the task. 2023 Cox Media Group. The officers prior to us getting here would be involved in the day-to-day happenings with what was going on with the students. Woods described growing up with Castagna and being mentored by him. Local students gather at state capitol, make plea for an end to gun First published on November 17, 2021 / 8:50 PM. Just over 24 hours after being asked for his resignation, the Woodland Hills School Board voted to terminate Superintendent James P. Harris's . 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. West Mifflin schools fired Castagna in 2019 after his second DUI case. 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. November 17, 2021 / 8:50 PM In the early 2000s, Woodland Hills was losing about 400 kids a year to charter schools. 0183 The Woodland Hills School District Welcomes Dr. Daniel Castagna as Interim Superintendent. PublishedNovember 17, 2021 at 9:53 PM EST. Harris: Im not anti-police. If we cant de-escalate a situation, then no one really can. A legal fight could cause a delay and leave the matter to the new school board members, who take their seats in January. Q: As police presence phased out, has anything surprised you? The school board, staff and communitys belief in me is something I will never take for granted.. If we could do more things like this and have the community wrap around us and this problem. 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 . 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. The School Board, staff and communitys belief in me is something I will never take for granted. Especially after we have had time to demonstrate change," she said. 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. Harris told KDKA that the school board president, vice president and school solicitor asked him to resign on Tuesday. JAMES P. HARRIS JR., the new superintendent of the Woodland Hills School District, fields questions from reporters after being sworn-in, Aug. Please enter valid email address to continue. "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. 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. Woodland Hills is a very special place, and I am proud to be a part of this family. Q: How did the culture change as police presence began to phase out? Q: How were you able to get staff, students and families on board? Castagna later sued the school district after they released a list of grievances againsthim. 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. "Why are we not looking internally," asked Jennifer Alfieri, a registered speaker, and parent. ", 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. 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 . "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. Both voted against Castagnas appointment as acting superintendent in January, along with board president Mike Belmonte and Lawson. Woodland Hills School District reduces property tax - Yahoo News He initially told KDKA it involved only a half-dozen students. Harris had been an administrator since 2018, and the school board did not give a reason for his firing. Students, parents, coaches and community leaders shared their opinions with the board. Woodland Hills hires Dan Castagna as superintendent - WTAE This small Wilkinsburg private school wants to grow into a 'village' in the community, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Suspended superintendent accused of knowingly hiring man being investigated for murder. This position is a position of public trust. 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. Harris was hired in 2018 as the district was under the spotlight after its school police were accused of using excessive force. Does Woodland Hills collect data around arrests and citations? 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. 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. sas.setup({ domain: 'https://www5.smartadserver.com'}); Castagna was hired by the district in 2007 and served as superintendent from 2011 through 2018. 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. Could policing be reimagined in schools? Strategic Plan Midpoint - Professional Education. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. We have many wonderful programs for our students. Mike Belmonte; Terri Lawson; Dr. Tammi L. McMillan, Ed.D; Darnika Reed; Carlton Scott; Bridgett . 15. However, we have a terrible image problem. Please don't do this to us." In a seemingly abrupt move Wednesday night, the Woodland Hills School Board voted to terminate its superintendent. He was placed on unpaid leave July 2 pending termination. Do you feel more informed? Other speakers did not agree. "We have people internally. How do you work beyond the notion that people will take advantage of a school environment without police presence? Assistant 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. Superintendent's Office; Title IX; Transcripts; Woodland Hills Foundation (opens in new window/tab) 23-24 School Calendar . Students return to Woodland Hills High School with new rules - WPXI 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.