Jury orders West Mifflin School District to pay $2.9M to former superintendent

A federal jury on Monday ordered West Mifflin School District to pay nearly $3 million to former Superintendent Daniel Castagna in connection with his 2019 firing.

The jury late last week ruled in favor of Castagna, now acting superintendent at Woodland Hills, on all but one of the claims he laid out against the district in a lawsuit filed in 2019. They awarded damages worth $2.95 million on Monday.

Jurors found the district guilty of violating Castagna’s First Amendments rights of political affiliation and free speech, violating the Pennsylvania Whistleblower Law and breaching its contract with Castagna.

West Mifflin officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

Castagna, in a statement released by his attorney, thanked the jurors.

“After a very long and hard-fought battle, I feel vindicated knowing that the jury saw through the school district’s false allegations and found that I was the target of illegal retaliation,” he said.

Castagna was hired by the district in 2007 and served as superintendent from 2011 through 2018. On Jan. 10, 2018, he began a two-week medical leave, and the school board voted Jan. 19 to place him on paid leave.

He was set to be arraigned later that month on DUI charges stemming from an incident in Beaver County three months earlier. He’d previously been charged with driving under the influence in 2008, and he was later charged again in August 2019.

He was placed on unpaid leave July 2 pending termination.

Castagna’s firing from his West Mifflin post came after a series of hearings throughout 2018 under a law that allows for superintendents and assistant superintendents to have their contracts terminated with a school board vote for “neglect of duty, incompetency, or immorality.”

In his subsequent lawsuit, Castagna argued he was targeted and eventually fired because of political differences with several school board members.

The Woodland Hills school board voted 5-4 after a contentious meeting in late January to hire Castagna as acting superintendent during the search for a permanent replacement for James Harris.

The contact is for one year or until a new superintendent is hired, according to school board documents. He is not eligible for any benefits but will be paid $615 per day.

District officials defended his hiring following a meeting that saw hours of public comments.

“We understand that there has been heightened attention and discussion regarding this decision,” board member Carlton Scott said, “but we truly believe that Dr. Castagna will faithfully and expertly guide the Woodland Hills School District during this transition period.”

Castagna addressed his new district following news of the verdict in his lawsuit against West Mifflin.

“To my new Woodland Hills School District family, I hope this verdict allows us all to move forward together with the goal of creating opportunities for our students and multiple pathways to success,” he said.