The Johnston County school district temporarily suspended 16 students at Smithfield-Selma Senior High School after a gang fight last Monday.

School officials may suspend the students for the rest of the school year, according to spokeswoman Terri Sessoms.

"We take a very hard line against these kinds of activities," Sessoms said.

The fight started last Monday around 7:30 a.m. A school resource officer and deputies broke it up. No one was injured.

Some of the students were arrested that day and charged with simple affray and disorderly conduct. Others were arrested later in the week.

Students told officers that the fight was gang-related.

The district, which has 43 schools, gets reports of between 10 and 15 gang-related incidents each year, Sessoms said.

From "a national perspective, it would look like we don't have any problem. But at the local level what we have are wannabes," she said.

The fight at Smithfield-Selma Senior High School was the largest this year.

"This was a formed gang situation. These students cannot be with other students because we, there again that's another preventative action, in keeping these students from being able to influence other students," Sessoms said. "The safety of our staff and our students just takes a top priority."

The district trains all staff to recognize gang signs and tries to reach students before they join gangs, Sessoms added.

If you suspect your child is involved with a gang, contact the school district.