Parents and students of Clear Lake Elementary were alerted by letter on May 20 about a suspicious person, spotted by one of the school’s teachers, hanging around school grounds.
According to the letter from Principal Jim Schwarz sent home with students, the staff member alerted office personnel around 8:15 a.m. that there was a ‘suspicious person sitting in the brush in the small patch of woods west of the building (between our school soccer field and the first house on Drahner Rd. west of the school lot.)? The letter emphasizes that the individual did not make any advances toward anyone, had not made any comments to anyone or anyone in passing, and had not left the bushes to approach anyone.
The letter describes the individual as a white, middle-aged male with dark hair, wearing dark-rimmed glasses and a light grey jacket. The man did not leave the bushes until he was discovered, and then fled the area on a bicycle.
‘The teacher noticed the man sitting there and came in and reported that it ‘just seemed odd,?? explained Principal Schwarz. ‘We’re not going to treat this as a sniper in the bushes, we just want everyone to be aware.?
Upon being notified of the suspicious person, school administrators immediately brought any children outside awaiting entry for the start of school indoors. Any children arriving to school for the rest of the morning were asked to come indoors immediately. Schwarz said the staff remained ‘calm and collective? throughout the process.
Adult supervision was increased at all school doorways and the west end of the grounds. The Oakland County Sheriff’s Department was contacted shortly after the report was made, and inspections of the grounds were done in the morning, at the lunch hour and at dismissal. As a further precaution, morning recess was cancelled, but due to rain, the time was held indoors anyway.
The letter states: ‘To prevent the feelings of panic or anxiety, we did not announce why there was no recess, other than it was raining and we were expecting some work on the playground.?
‘We just feel people need to be aware of what’s happening,? said Schwarz. ‘However, we don’t want to make this more then it is, but we do want everyone to have their eyes and ears open. Even though there may be no intent there, we want to take precautions in every way possible.?
To continue ensuring the safety of Clear Lake students, the entire staff has been briefed in the situation and is maintaining active surveillance during outdoor times with students. Also, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department will be making an effort to maintain a frequent presence near the school during arrival and dismissal times.
Mr. Schwarz asks that all parents speak with their children about stranger safety, reiterating the importance of refusal skills, reporting suspicious persons and seeking immediate help if approached.
‘By working together with all of our eyes and ears open, we can ensure the safety of all of the children in our neighborhoods,? concluded Schwarz in his letter.
Anyone seeing an individual matching the above description is asked to please contact the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department at 248-969-3077.