BCSD sends letter regarding suspicious van approaching students in east Bakersfield

The Bakersfield City School District is warning parents after a suspicious van was seen approaching students in east Bakersfield.

BCSD sent a letter to parents of four schools in the district: Sierra Middle School, Compton Jr. High, Ramon Garza Elementary and Harding Elementary. 

The letter discusses two incidents: the first happening in December, when a suspicious white van reportedly approached a Compton student walking home from school near East High School. The student alerted her parents.

The second incident happened January 11 on Descanso Street, when a white van approached a group of three Sierra Middle School students walking home from school. The report BCSD received said a woman and a man were inside the van, and a woman jumped out of the rear of the vehicle and moved towards the students with a rag in her hand.

A neighbor confronted the woman and she fled, according to the report. No students were harmed during the incidents.

Law enforcement is investigating the second incident. The Kern High School District Police Department is also aware of the situation because the first incident happened near East High School, a KHSD school.

BCSD gave 23ABC a statement on why the letter was only sent to the schools affected by the incidents:

"We did have two incidents last week affecting Compton and Sierra students. We sent letters home to those schools, and the elementary schools that are located right next to them (Garza & Harding). We did not have any incidents in the area of Horace Mann. Safety is always of top priority for the district. We have contacted authorities, who are investigating. We made parents of students at those schools aware of the incidents and included student safety tips for getting to and from school. We address safety with students at school, and we encourage parents to do the same with their children at home," said BCSD.