Woodland Hills appoints Castagna as permanent superintendent; 2 school directors resign

Woodland Hills school officials have made Acting Superintendent Daniel Castagna’s position permanent, voting to confirm his appointment at a special meeting Wednesday night that also included the resignation of two school board members.

The board voted 5-1 to appoint Castagna as the superintendent; board member Terri Lawson abstained from voting. The board also accepted the resignation of members Ronna Currie and Marilyn Scott.

Castagna has served as the district’s acting superintendent since late January, following the school board’s decision to terminate superintendent James Harris’ contract in December2021.

Castagna has also served as superintendent in the West Mifflin School District from 2011-2019, and has worked in administrative positions in both the Baldwin-Whitehall and Hopewell Area school districts.

“I am humbled and honored by the opportunity to serve the students of the Woodland Hills School District community as its superintendent,” Castagna said. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here so far and will continue to partner with our district’s talented staff and dedicated community.”

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 state’s whistleblower law and breaching its contract with him.

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.

Many pointed to Castagna having been charged with driving under the influence three separate times.

“Woodland Hills is a very special place, and I am proud to be a part of this family,” Castagna said. “The school board, staff and community’s belief in me is something I will never take for granted.”

Neither Scott nor Currie could be immediately reached for comment. Both voted against Castagna’s appointment as acting superintendent in January, along with board president Mike Belmonte and Lawson.

Woodland Hills School District includes students from Braddock, Braddock Hills, Chalfant, Churchill, East Pittsburgh, Edgewood, Forest Hills, North Braddock, Rankin, Swissvale, Turtle Creek and Wilkins.