The superintendent of Arlington schools is apologizing for the lack of communication after parents were left in the dark that the father of an elementary school student was forced to turn over his gun and license because of a heated argument with a principal.
“I am mindful that communication with all of you could have been handled better,” Superintendent Kathleen Bodie said in a message to parents, students and faculty yesterday.
Police confiscated Robert Goodwin Jr.’s gun, suspended his gun license and ordered him to stay away from the Stratton Elementary School Friday after principal Michael Hanna reported Goodwin allegedly flashed his gun permit during an argument and said he had access to firearms at home, Arlington police Chief Frederick Ryan said.
Goodwin, however, disputes that account.
“I did not threaten (Hanna’s) life in any way,” Goodwin said yesterday.
Goodwin said Wednesday’s argument was over a picture his son drew in art class of Gru, the main character in the movie “Despicable Me,” “shooting ping-pong balls at his minions,” which school officials thought was sexual in nature.
Ryan said Goodwin has not been charged, although an investigation is ongoing. Police officers were stationed at the school Friday.
A parent of two students at the school, who declined to identify herself, said she and other parents are upset they weren’t immediately notified about the alleged threat.
“We should have been told about it,” she said.
Bodie said both she and Hanna will be available tomorrow afternoon to field “comments, questions or concerns about what happened.”
