Fired West Mifflin Area superintendent hired by Woodland Hills

Woodland Hills School District officials have selected Daniel Castagna as their acting superintendent, district officials announced Friday.

Castagna, who was fired in 2019 by West Mifflin Area School District after two DUI arrests, will serve as Woodland Hills’ top administrator until a more permanent superintendent can be found.

Castagna at the time denied the charges and claimed the West Mifflin Area board’s actions were political. He later sued the district in federal court. The suit is still pending.

A new superintendent was needed at Woodland Hills following that school board’s termination of James Harris in November.

The vote to fire Harris was 8-1, with board member Andre Patterson casting the lone dissenting vote.

The board approved Castagna’s hiring via resolution at a special meeting Friday.

Castagna’s compensation is $615 per day, according to a superintendent’s agreement that was attached to the online agenda.

He is not be eligible for insurance benefits, sick days, sick leave, personal leave or “any other manner of compensation or benefit provided by the school district to its employees,” as per the agreement.

“During the course of our search for an acting superintendent, we had the opportunity to speak with both internal and external candidates,” board member Carlton Scott, who was part of the interview committee, said via district news release. “During the process, Dr. Castagna earned the support of the majority of the board.

”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.”

His employment is for one year or until the district hires a new superintendent.

“I appreciate the Woodland Hills School District giving me this opportunity to serve as its acting superintendent,” Castagna said via district release. “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. We have a great faculty in place and the students in our district are capable of delivering great things. I am here to help that happen.”

Castagna was hired as West Mifflin Area’s superintendent in 2007.

Prior to that, 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.