'Stranger Danger' Incident Reported at Sandmeier

Springfield schools report that a student was approached by a stranger on school grounds this month. School officials say that the student followed school safety guidelines and avoided potential danger.

According to a message from Sandmeier Principal Hillary Corburn, an unidentified woman spoke with the student on the Sandmeier school playground blacktop shortly after the school’s 3 p.m. dismissal on Wednesday, May 9. The woman reportedly offered the student a lollipop and asked for the child’s name.

She was described as a thin, Caucasian female with blond hair with black streaks, wearing jeans, a blue shirt, a blue-green vest and open-toed shoes.

In a note to parents, Corburn said the student behaved just as she was taught to do, running to meet her parent who had just arrived by car to pick her up.

Sandmeier is one of two Springfield elementary schools and offers classes for children in third, fourth and fifth grade. , the township’s other elementary school, teaches students in third, fourth and fifth grades also. Second graders, first graders, pre-k and kindergarten students are taught at the .

Police were notified of the incident. Following a report of a driver seeking attention of students in February, Springfield PD has undertaken several steps to insure child safety. In addition to alerting patrols and working with school administrators, the police recently hosted a at .