'Unknown Man': District Sent Warning to 6,000 Beaumont Parents, Guardians

Letters warning of a man who approached a boy outside Mountain View Middle last week were sent to 6,000 parents and guardians of elementary and middle students in the Beaumont Unified School District, the director of student services said Wednesday.

"We take every situation like this seriously," said Shawn D. Mitchell, director of Student Services for Beaumont Unified School District. "The safety of our students is the number one priority.

"In any community, there are going to be rumors, and we wanted to get the facts out," Mitchell said.

The unidentified man approached the boy after he got out of school Friday at Mountain View Middle, and told the student his mother sent him to pick up the student, Mitchell, said in the .

"The student responded by calling his mother," Mitchell said. "The man then ran away towards Noble Creek."

Beaumont police were investigating, Mitchell said.

"We appreciate them responding immediately," Mitchell said. "Where they're at in their investigation, I don't know.

"Beaumont police are a huge presence in the city and in our schools community," Mitchell said. "I think parents understand that unfortunately these incidents occur. We review student safety every year with students and parents, and Beaumont police play a part in that."

Student safety procedures will be reviewed and underscored at regular start-of-the-year assemblies district wide, Mitchell said.

Mitchell said his letter to parents and guardians will also be posted on the Beaumont High School web site.

A pdf of Mitchell's letter is attached to this report.