Harris spoke with PublicSource to discuss how the atmosphere has changed and how this idea can be considered in other districts. This button displays the currently selected search type. Q: How were you able to get staff, students and families on board? The students listened to their own local leaders testify, including Woodland Hills Superintendent Daniel Castagna and Aliquippa Mayor Dwan Walker. Castagna will be the acting superintendent for one year or until a new superintendent is hired. Now inspired by the journey, these kids hope to use this experience to make a change back in their own communities. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Suspended superintendent accused of knowingly hiring man being investigated for murder. 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). 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. Harris: This is the first year we have no police. 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: Any business or any organization wants people to feel welcome, but the students have a lot of needs, and so do staff. 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. "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. The former West Mifflin superintendent who was fired after his second DUI case has been hired by the Woodland Hills School District. 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. NORTH BRADDOCK, Pa. (KDKA) -- The Woodland Hills school board has voted to terminate its superintendent. MFH Superintendent - Jobot What we did not want to have continue to happen was the criminalization of adolescent behavior. "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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Interim Superintendent email: castda@whsd.net 412.731.1300 ext. Harris: The phased-out approach it showed not having a need. Castagna replaces James Harris, who was fired in December. formatId: 34956, // Format : IAB Leaderboard 728x90 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. Members . 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. If we could do more things like this and have the community wrap around us and this problem. Woodland Hills senior Desmon Jackson said whatever the intent was, it was hurtful. Board members did not say what prompted the termination. We knew week-to-week, we can see changes based on the minor adjustments that we were doing. You can contact Patrick by email at pvarine@triblive.com or via Twitter . Woodland Hills School District approves teacher cuts, tax reduction - MSN Harris has come under fire recently for his handling of fights at the high school, including one involving as many as 50 or 60 students. We didnt do that; thats not our role. The school district announced on May 25 that Castagna would officially be head of the district from May 26, 2022, to May 25, 2027. siteId: 126296, // Woodland Hills Foundation (opens in new window/tab) 23-24 School Calendar; Superintendent's Office . 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 . 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. 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. 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. We have a great faculty in place, and the students in our district are capable of delivering great things. The school district announced on May 25 that Castagna would officially be head of the district from May 26, 2022, to May 25, 2027. | Watch WPXI NOW, 18-year-old killed, another injured in crash on I-79 3 Rivers Casino employees fired, charged after fight in dining room, state police say Pittsburgh doctor speaks on deadly fungal infections across US VIDEO: Peace summit in Larimer brings together domestic abuse survivors with goal of taking action DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts, 18-year-old killed, another injured in crash on I-79, 3 Rivers Casino employees fired, charged after fight in dining room, state police say, Pittsburgh doctor speaks on deadly fungal infections across US, VIDEO: Peace summit in Larimer brings together domestic abuse survivors with goal of taking action, DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts, For only the second time in its history, the US Navy is beginning the slow, tricky process of taking apart a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, A Towering, Terrifying Demon Horse Isnt Even the Weirdest Part, Man who lost wife, son in Texas mass shooting tells story, Roman Polanski and the woman he pleaded guilty to raping pose together 45 years later, Hunter Biden appears in court for paternity case, Virtual run raises awareness for MMIP families throughout the country, Pour Salt Down Your Drain At Night, Here's Why, This Series on Swedish Death Cleaning Unpacks the Emotional Burden of Clutter, Shop the top trends from the 2023 Met Gala red carpet: Nude dresses, corsets and black and white. 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. If we cant de-escalate a situation, then no one really can. 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. 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. How do you work beyond the notion that people will take advantage of a school environment without police presence? 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. As many as 30 students were identified in a cafeteria fight. Woodland Hills Superintendent James Harris Says He Will Fight - YouTube The board also accepted the resignation of members Ronna Currie and Marilyn Scott. District officials defended his hiring following a meeting that saw hours of public comments. The tone of the night changed briefly when Castagna's only non-school board public supporter stood up to speak. 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. }); Dr. Daniel Castagna 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. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here so far and will continue to partner with our districts talented staff and dedicated community. It comes as the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee is holding its first discussion in more than a decade on laws related to guns. Your vote tonight will be reflected in your record, and we will note it when you are up for election again.". 412.731.1300 ext. Messages: April 5th . 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. "The result of what some of us believe was a hasty and unwarranted action was a loss of public trust." Woodland Hills Golf & Country Club is an 18-hole, 6390 yard, par 72 championship golf course and country club. Just over 24 hours after being asked for his resignation, the Woodland Hills School Board voted to terminate Superintendent James P. Harris's . We cannot and will not stand for it. "We have people internally. Very rarely were they ever called, so the officers sat in the office all day. Some speakers said Harris helped improve district and student achievement. Dave Gremmels - General Manager, Superintendent - Woodland Hills Golf 50 years ago this month, we exposed a state institution. Both voted against Castagnas appointment as acting superintendent in January, along with board president Mike Belmonte and Lawson. 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. "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. Video shows principal holding a student's head while he's shocked with
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