Tuesday, February 25, 2025, 6:00AM |  44°
MENU
Advertisement
Members of the West Mifflin Area School Board listen to Diane Stanesic of West Mifflin, center, speak in favor of keeping Superintendent Daniel Castagna during a special board meeting held to determine the fate of the suspended Superintendent Wednesday, March 13, 2019, at the West Mifflin Area Middle School in West Mifflin. The board concluded the meeting with a vote to terminate Superintendent Castagna.
7
MORE

School board fires West Mifflin Area superintendent

Jessie Wardarski/Post-Gazette

School board fires West Mifflin Area superintendent

The West Mifflin Area school board fired superintendent Daniel Castagna on Wednesday, capping months of tense hearings to decide his fate amid allegations of serious wrongdoing.

In nearly a dozen public meetings since last summer, witnesses have accused Mr. Castagna of a range of offenses, including allegations that he paid members of a notorious biker gang to spook political rivals and that he helped a convicted killer get a school security job.

The board voted 6-3 in support of the move, with members Janice Gladden, Judith Ahern, and Judy Andzelik opposing the decision.

Advertisement

Mr. Castagna and his attorney, Colleen Ramage Johnston, have staunchly denied the accusations, dismissing them as part of a vendetta against him by board members whom he did not support politically. Neither attended the meeting Wednesday.

In this file photo, members of the West Mifflin Area School Board listen to Diane Stanesic of West Mifflin, center, speak in favor of keeping Superintendent Daniel Castagna during a special board meeting held to determine the fate of the suspended Superintendent Wednesday, March 13, 2019, at the West Mifflin Area Middle School in West Mifflin.
Matt McKinney
What's next for West Mifflin Area School District after firing superintendent?

Reached by phone Wednesday evening, Ms. Johnston described the vote as the board’s “final act of political retaliation” against Mr. Castagna. They plan to appeal his firing in Common Pleas Court within the next few weeks, she said.

“There was no evidence to support the allegations of misconduct, and there is overwhelming evidence that several of the school board members planned to fire Dr. Castagna once they were seated after winning the election because he did not support them politically,” she said.

School board President David Marshall and other members declined to comment on the decision, citing Mr. Castagna's ongoing federal lawsuit against the district and the six board members who suspended him.

Advertisement

Hearing officer Thomas Castello sustained all but two of the charges. He ruled that there was not enough evidence to conclude that Mr. Castagna hurt the district’s public image by filing a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Complaint against the board or that he hired Sin City Deciples Motorcycle Club members to intimidate political foes at a school board meeting.

Dozens of residents again crowded the West Mifflin Area Middle School auditorium Wednesday at a special meeting that reflected the divide between Mr. Castagna’s supporters and detractors.

Roughly a half-dozen residents addressed the board during the public comment period before the vote. Most expressed displeasure with the handling of the situation, including that Mr. Castello’s findings were not made public before the meeting.

As Mr. Castello began to read a summary of his findings, one resident in the crowded shouted, “That should have been done first!”

A former West Mifflin Area School District adiminstrator said she was fired, partly due her affiliation with former Superintendent Daniel Castagna, who was fired by the school board in March amid allegations of serious wrongdoing.
Elizabeth Behrman
Former employee sues West Mifflin schools, citing heritage and affiliation with fired superintendent

“This was a personal vendetta from the start,” said resident Rachel Kuzia. “In the long run, I think this is just going to play out in federal court.”

“Me and Mr. Castello must have come to two different hearings,” said resident Phil Shar after the board made its decision. “They haven’t proven anything and that’s the truth. Everything was based on hatred.”

Mr. Shar, a retired West Mifflin Area School District teacher, added, “Dr. Castagna is the best superintendent we ever had.”

“I’m not really shocked at how the board voted,” said resident Kevin Squires. He added Mr. Castello’s recommendations “seemed to be his interpretation of the hearsay”  that was permitted at the hearings.

“How do you judge that and say ‘this is evidence?’” Mr. Squires said. 

Resident Russ Boyle said of the board’s decision: “I think they made the right choice.”

“You can try to spin the scenario any way you want, but the bottom line is the guy has two DUIs,” Mr. Boyle said. “What kind of example is he to kids?”

The board has also been divided throughout the process. Emails obtained last month by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette shed light on those rifts, including a quarrel over whether some members were withholding information about the process from each other.

The board placed Mr. Castagna on unpaid leave in July 2018, as he faced a pending DUI case in Beaver County.

The hearings, which were held under Section 1080 of the Pennsylvania School Code, allow the board to fire Mr. Castagna — and void any buyout requirements — “for neglect of duty, incompetency, intemperance or immorality.”

They have become more common in recent years after a 2012 change to the Pennsylvania School Code put limits on the terms of severance packages, making such agreements tougher to reach, legal experts said.

Mr. Castagna was about halfway through his five-year contract extension the board approved in 2015, which started at an annual base salary of $156,181, with a 3.5 percent increase each year.

If Mr. Castagna wins his appeal, the board could have to pay his legal expenses, per his contract.

Freelance writer Deanna Carpenter contributed to this article. Matt McKinney: mmckinney@post-gazette.com, 412-263-1944, or on Twitter @mmckinne17. Deana Carpenter: suburbanliving@post-gazette.com.

First Published: March 14, 2019, 12:34 a.m.

RELATED
Suspended Superintendent Daniel Castagna faces a board hearing on March 13, where he may be dismissed from his duties.
Elizabeth Behrman
West Mifflin school board to determine fate of suspended superintendent next week
Suspended Superintendent Daniel Castagna denies he improperly used district credit cards for meals and other expenses.
Matt McKinney
Email exchange reveals rifts on West Mifflin Area school board over embattled superintendent
Suspended Superintendent Daniel Castagna denies he improperly used district credit cards for meals and other expenses.
Matt McKinney and Deana Carpeneter
Costs associated with West Mifflin Area school board's push to fire its superintendent surpass $125,000
Suspended Superintendent Daniel Castagna denies he improperly used district credit cards for meals and other expenses.
Deana Carpenter
Suspended West Mifflin superintendent denies improper use of district credit card
Daniel Castagna, superintendent of the West Milffin Area School District, was suspended from his job by the school board.
Deana Carpenter
Former West Mifflin school board member testifies private board discussions were leaked
SHOW COMMENTS (0)  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, shown delivering his budget address in early February, said on Monday that a federal freeze of money intended for Pennsylvania is over.
1
news
Gov. Shapiro says federal freeze and blockages of $2.1 billion for Pa. are now over
Agents took Rachel Marie Powell, 40, of Sandy Lake, into custody in New Castle on Feb. 4, 2021.
2
news
Pardoned for Jan. 6, 'Pink Hat Lady' came home to a new reality in Western Pa.
Law enforcement respond to the scene of a shooting at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York, Pa. on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025.
3
news
Gunman in UPMC mass shooting battled lifelong mental health issues, says ex-girlfriend
The Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg, where state Acting Secretary of Education Carrie Rowe on Monday answered budget questions from lawmakers.
4
news
Pa. acting education secretary 'exceptionally concerned' after report on cyber charter school funding
The Downtown Pittsburgh skyline, with the view from Station Square on Thursday, May 30, 2024.
5
news
DHS director says Allegheny County could face reduction in millions of dollars for Medicaid, other services
Members of the West Mifflin Area School Board listen to Diane Stanesic of West Mifflin, center, speak in favor of keeping Superintendent Daniel Castagna during a special board meeting held to determine the fate of the suspended Superintendent Wednesday, March 13, 2019, at the West Mifflin Area Middle School in West Mifflin. The board concluded the meeting with a vote to terminate Superintendent Castagna. "This is just terrible," says Stanesic. "They're losing one of the best things this school district has." (  (Jessie Wardarski/Post-Gazette)
Suspended Superintendent Daniel Castagna denies he improperly used district credit cards for meals and other expenses.  (West Mifflin Area School District)
Diane Stanesic of West Mifflin, second from left, closes her eyes frowning while sitting with Phil Schar, second from right, and Diane Schar, right, both of West Mifflin, as the West Mifflin Area School Board votes to terminate Superintendent Daniel Castagna Wednesday, March 13, 2019, at the West Mifflin Area Middle School in West Mifflin. The Superintendent's employment at West Mifflin will officially end in June of 2019. (Jessie Wardarski/Post-Gazette)  (Jessie Wardarski/Post-Gazette)
Thomas M. Castello, Hearing Officer, left, looks through his paperwork as Board President David Marshall of West Mifflin, center, hits his gavel to quiet several residents in the audience as he sits with Janice Gladden of West Mifflin, right, and several other school board members during a special West Mifflin Area School Board meeting held to determine the fate of suspended Superintendent Daniel Castagna Wednesday, March 13, 2019, at the West Mifflin Area Middle School in West Mifflin. The board concluded the meeting with a vote to terminate Superintendent Castagna. (Jessie Wardarski/Post-Gazette)  (Jessie Wardarski/Post-Gazette)
School board members Stephen Kovac, of West Mifflin, left, and Anthony DiCenzo of West Mifflin, Board Vice President, center, listen as Thomas M. Castello, Esquire, Hearing Officer for a special West Mifflin Area School Board meeting held to determine the fate of suspended Superintendent Daniel Castagna, gives his recommendation of action regarding each accusation made against the Superintendent Wednesday, March 13, 2019, at the West Mifflin Area Middle School in West Mifflin. The board concluded the meeting with a vote to terminate Superintendent Castagna. (Jessie Wardarski/Post-Gazette)  (Jessie Wardarski/Post-Gazette)
West Mifflin Area School Board President David Marshall of West Mifflin, center, shakes hands with a community member as he leaves the special board meeting that was held to determine the fate of suspended Superintendent Daniel Castagna Wednesday, March 13, 2019, at the West Mifflin Area Middle School in West Mifflin. The board concluded the meeting with a vote to terminate Superintendent Castagna. (Jessie Wardarski/Post-Gazette)  (Jessie Wardarski/Post-Gazette)
Jim Jasinski of West Mifflin, left, talks with West Mifflin School Board President David Marshall of West Mifflin, second from left, after a special board meeting that was held to determine the fate of suspended Superintendent Daniel Castagna Wednesday, March 13, 2019, at the West Mifflin Area Middle School in West Mifflin. The board concluded the meeting with a vote to terminate Superintendent Castagna. (Jessie Wardarski/Post-Gazette)  (Jessie Wardarski/Post-Gazette)
Jessie Wardarski/Post-Gazette
Advertisement
LATEST news
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story