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Woodland Hills begins search for new high school principal

Woodland Hills begins search for new high school principal

The Woodland Hills School District has officially launched its search for a new high school principal after the school board accepted the resignation of the former principal. 

Kevin Murray resigned his position Wednesday as principal of Woodland Hills High School and as the head coach of the varsity football team after months of controversy surrounding several high-profile incidents involving students. He had been on unpaid leave as principal since July 1, after his administrator’s certification lapsed and he awaited a decision from the Pennsylvania Department of Education about a renewal. 

The district posted the job opening on its website Thursday morning, and Superintendent Alan Johnson says he hopes to hire a new principal by October. 

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“We think it’s important to get an array of candidates that we can look at,” Mr. Johnson said. “Obviously this will be an important process for the school district and we’re going to take our time and be very selective. This is going to be a very big job for somebody. Somebody is going to have to come in to that building and rebuild the confidence and trust of the community.”

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Four students have said in recent months that they were mistreated by Mr. Murray and school resource Officer Steve Shaulis, an officer with the Churchill Police Department.

Attorney Todd Hollis, who represents three of the students, released an audio recording in the fall of Mr. Murray threatening to knock out the teeth of one boy.

Mr. Murray was placed on administrative leave while the Allegheny County District Attorney’s office investigated. He was reinstated in January after investigators declined to pursue criminal charges.

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This spring, Mr. Hollis released surveillance video of the two other students who had physical encounters with Officer Shaulis. One of the students, Que’Chawn Wade, said Officer Shaulis hit him so hard his front tooth fell out. The other student, in 2015, was pinned to the floor by Mr. Murray while the officer shocked him with a Taser.

The FBI and the district attorney’s office are investigating whether Officer Shaulis used excessive force. 

Despite community protest, the school board named Mr. Murray as head football coach in April. He announced last week that he would resign that position because he didn’t want the controversy to be a “distraction” for the players. Assistant coach Tim Bostard will serve as the interim head coach this year.

While he spoke highly of Mr. Murray and his years of service to the school district, Mr. Johnson said his resignation allows the district to move forward in time for the start of the school year Aug. 31. He said it’s a shame “that there are lots of things that will never be known that (Mr. Murray) did for kids.”

Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene A. DePasquale.
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“This was a good outcome because it enables us to close this chapter and attempt to move on,” he said.

Mr. Johnson said he hopes the decision provides some closure for Mr. Murray, as well, and allows him to move forward. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education website, Mr. Murray’s certification is still listed as “lapsed.”

As the district conducts its search for a permanent replacement, high school Assistant Principal Candee Nagy will serve as acting principal. She will earn a per diem amount of $37.57 in addition to her annual salary of $85,231. 

Ms. Nagy is a 25-year education veteran, who worked as a biology teacher before becoming an administrator five years ago. Prior to working in Woodland Hills, she served as a middle school principal in the Wilkinsburg School District. 

“I love this school, I love the kids,” she said about Woodland Hills. “The community is very welcoming to me, as well as my students. I’m not a just sit-in-the-office kind of administrator.”

She said she will focus on moving forward and try to “reunite” everyone in the school.

“We’ve got a job we need to do,” she said. “We all have a purpose in this building. I think (the focus will be) just moving forward at this point in a positive way, fresh and ready to just get the job done.”

Mr. Johnson said he believes Ms. Nagy will be able to transition smoothly into her new role as acting principal. She is already familiar with the students and understands “what the district is trying to do” with regards to disciplinary reform, he said. 

“I’m very optimistic about the start of the school year because of that,” Mr. Johnson said. “Given it’s her, I feel pretty confident we’re going to get going OK.”

Elizabeth Behrman: Lbehrman@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1590. 

First Published: August 20, 2017, 4:00 a.m.

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