AZ: Mesa special ed. director parked in handicapped spot

"Just because you have a hard life doesn't mean the world owes you everything."
by Jim Walsh - Dec. 2, 2008
The Arizona Republic

http://www.azcentral.com:80/community/mesa/articles/2008/12/02/20081202parking12\02.html

The superintendent of Mesa Public Schools apologized to the father of two disabled boys who was angered by the district's special education director's use of a parking space reserved for the handicapped.

Superintendent Deb Duvall issued the apology in a letter she sent to Chris Beckham of Mesa this week.

Beckham, who has two sons with muscular dystrophy, said he was appalled by the "absolute arrogance" of Special Education Director William Santiago outside Zaharis Elementary School on Wednesday morning.

Beckham said he merely asked Santiago not to park in the handicapped spot again, explaining that those spaces are needed by parents dropping off disabled students.

But as the two argued, Beckham said Santiago told him, "Just because you have a hard life doesn't mean the world owes you everything."

Beckham complained to Michael Cowan, associate superintendent of schools, later that day. Cowan and Duvall met with Santiago and counseled him about the incident, but Santiago faces no additional discipline, said Kathy Bareiss, a district spokeswoman.

Illegal use of a handicapped parking space can result in a citation that carries a $101.25 fine. Santiago wasn't cited in the incident.

Bareiss said it was raining and Santiago was taking his own child to school. She said he was blocked by traffic from reaching other parking spaces, so he parked in the handicapped spot briefly and went inside the school.

Santiago and Beckham got into an argument after Santiago returned to his truck, Bareiss said.

"They had a discussion over whether he should park there or not. He was in a rush, but it was inappropriate," she said. "This is not something that we expect in the behavior of our administrators."

Santiago was out of his office on Tuesday afternoon and unavailable for comment.

Phil Pangrazio, executive director of Arizona Bridge to Independent Living, which serves the disabled community, said he's glad to hear Santiago was counseled for the parking offense.

"I think that's acceptable to some extent, but it's shocking and unconscionable given that person's position in special education,'' Pangrazio said. "You'd think he'd know better than that.''

Beckham said he appreciates Duvall sending him an apology, but has not received her note. He said he doesn't want anyone to lose their job but he believes Santiago should face harsher discipline.

"I was appalled when he said he was the special education director" and had spent his career helping handicapped children, Beckham said. "I said he should have more compassion for the people who need this."

Beckham said he plans to take further action by complaining to the Mesa Public Schools governing board or the state Superintendent of Public Instruction.

He said that he and his wife have had run-ins with other parents at the school who illegally park in the handicapped spots and that they have encountered more problems at the school than at shopping malls. He previously complained to the principal.

Bareiss said Mike Oliver, the school's principal, has asked parents repeatedly not to park in the handicapped spaces unless they have a child with a physical handicap.

The entire dispute would have been avoided, Beckham said, if Santiago had just apologized on Wednesday morning. "All I was asking for was a little courtesy."

Beckham's sons are 9 and 6, with one of them requiring the use of a scooter.