PITTSBURGH — Woodland Hills School District’s high school principal, who the district attorney said earlier this week will not face criminal charges, will soon be reinstated, the district’s superintendent announced Thursday.
Kevin Murray was placed on paid leave last month after a recording surfaced of him allegedly threatening a student with special needs. The 14-year-old student made the recording in April 2016.
In the recording, Murray is allegedly heard threatening to punch the student, adding that if it ever went to court, it would be his word versus the boy’s.
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There was no shortage of community support for Murray at Woodland Hills’ school board meeting after the recording was revealed.
With the investigation closed, Murray will be reinstated, but a date was not given.
"Does he regret the interaction ever took place? Yes, he is remorseful about that. But I'll tell you this, he is relieved and he is excited because he wants to get back in there,” said Phil DiLucente, Murray’s attorney.
In a statement to Channel 11 News, Woodland Hills School District Superintendent Al Johnson explained the decision for Murray’s return, saying in part:
“It was also an anomaly and totally out of character for an educator who otherwise receives regular praise for his support for his students."We believe - and believe strongly - in second, third and fourth chances. Mr. Murray also deserves a second chance.”
Brandi Fisher, the president of the Alliance for Police Accountability - one of the groups that called for Murray's firing - also released a statement Thursday, which read:
"It is apparent that the district attorney is protecting the principal. It is apparent that Woodland Hills’ school board is protecting the principal. We, as educators, parents and adults, have a moral, ethical, and professional mandate to protect children. Who is protecting the victim? Who is protecting this child?“Students are in danger of mental, emotional and potential physical abuse as long as Murray is principal. We strongly suggest that the school board reconsider its position. If not, the board needs to be held responsible for putting these children in jeopardy. There are parents in prison right now for failing to protect a child from abuse, but an entire board of individuals can do it in front of the public with support.“Just because the district attorney doesn't find that a crime was committed, that is not the standard the school board should be going by to determine Murray's competency of being the principal of that school. I wonder if they would make the same decision had it been any one of their children victimized. The behavior displayed in that video was not an isolated incident and Murray needs to be fired."
The attorney for the 14-year-old student at the center of the incident said his client and his family are extremely disappointed over the reinstatement.
The child’s family members said the student had been removed from the school district, and they filed a petition to review the district attorney’s decision not to press charges.
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