The Pennsylvania Department of Education is delaying the certification of a high school principal accused of threatening a student who recorded the incident, while the department investigates his fitness of character.
An attorney for Woodland Hills principal Kevin Murray says he's spoken to state education officials and expects the certification to be approved in a few weeks.
Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala Jr. earlier this year declined to file criminal charges against Murray, whose threats were secretly recorded by the 14-year-old student in question. But Zappala called the threats "inappropriate" in a letter to the district's superintendent.
In May, four students at the school claimed they had been abused by Murry or a school resource officer at some point. The families of the students said they were considering lawsuits.
Murray was suspended, but later reinstated, after the recording surfaced in November in which he threatened to punch the student in the face.
Murray needs the certification to remain employed.
