Father gets apology after handicap parking flap

A top Mesa school district official in charge of services for special needs students parked in a school's designated handicapped spot - without having the proper disability plate or placard.

Christopher Beckham, whose two children, ages 6 and 9, have Duchenne muscular dystrophy, drove to James K. Zaharis Elementary School in northeast Mesa on Nov. 26 to drop off the boys. When he arrived, he said a vehicle was parked a bit diagonally in an adjoining handicapped spot making it difficult for his son to maneuver his scooter.

Beckham said when he approached the driver to ask him not to park there if he didn't have a handicapped plate, the man identified himself as the director of special education at the Mesa Unified School District and would not admit he made a mistake.

"This happened in front of my boys and they were upset about it the rest of the day," Beckham said Tuesday. "This guy is supposed to be the head advocate for my boys and he's supposed to work for me. That doesn't sit well with me. If he's going to behave that way ... what if have to go to somebody in that position for something my boys need?"

District spokeswoman Kathy Bareiss said William Santiago, the school official involved in the incident, was told his behavior and actions were inappropriate.

Bareiss also said Superintendent Debra Duvall wrote a letter of apology to Beckham.

"Dr. Duvall has talked with Mr. Santiago about the situation and let him know this is not appropriate behavior in such a situation," Bareiss said.

"Number one, he was wrong in parking in the handicapped spot and secondly to engage in words with Mr. Beckham was not appropriate and Dr. Duvall talked to Mr. Beckham on (Nov. 26) as did (associate superintendent) Mike Cowan and apologized. They made it clear this is not something they approve of," she said

Santiago was not ticketed in the situation.

Beckham said he has had issues with violators parking in those handicapped spots for a few years.

Principal Mike Oliver said he has issued reminders to parents who don't have a handicapped parking permit that they are not to park in those spots.

In a statement, Oliver said, "One of the central tenants at Zaharis School is this - the world is our classroom and it is our responsibility to make it a better place. In short, we refer to this as our 'curriculum of caring.'

"As part of our curriculum of caring, we have taken several measures to preserve our handicap parking spaces for those who need them most. It is of the utmost importance to us to teach our community and those who visit to honor and respect the reserved handicap parking areas."