CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- There's heightened concern about the safety of Garinger High School students around school bus stops.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools officials say a convicted sexual assailant is out on parole – a man they say kidnapped and sexually assaulted a Garinger student.

Very early Tuesday morning school resource officer patrolled bus stops around the school.

“He apparently likes to target young girls at school bus stops, and we're out this morning to try to ensure that he doesn't do it again,” an officer said.

Parents say it's frightening.

“That's kind of horrible – a person would be stalking kids that early in the morning,” said Kueshi Williams.

Eyewitness News isn’t revealing the man's name because police say he isn't a suspect in any recent crimes. But Bud Cesena, head of security at CMS, says the man was found guilty of kidnapping and sexual battery against a teen at a bus stop last year.

The man, who has a very long arrest record, is appealing the conviction.

Even so, Cesena says he’s not taking any chances.

“We dispatched our officers this morning to some bus stops, the areas that this happened in the past, and worked pretty hard in the area this morning,” he said.

And parents are happy to hear someone is watching out for students.

“I think that's an excellent idea, looking out for our children early in the morning,” Williams said.

CMS is so concerned that the man may re-offend they called Garinger High parents Tuesday to warn them about the man who may be driving a 2002 burgundy Ford Explorer or 2000 gold Lexus. School officials want parents to have a talk with their children.

The man was just released from the Mecklenburg County jail last week.