Things have been quieter at Natchez High School this week, but the district is keeping with its strict policies.

Superintendent Dr. Carl Davis said the students must learn to respect and obey school officials.

&uot;When teachers tell them to do something they are not doing it to be mean or hateful,&uot; Davis said. &uot;They are doing it for their own good.&uot;

Last week 18 students were arrested from Natchez High, Natchez Middle School and the Central Alternative School, with the largest number of arrests taking place at the high school.

&uot;We’ve got to get their attention back again,&uot;&160;Davis said &uot;They must follow authority.&uot;

The arrests included eight students who allegedly participated in a gang-related fight at the high school.

On the Friday after the fight, about 150 parents pulled their children out of school after rumors circulated that another gang fight or shooting would take place that day.

Nothing violent occurred Friday and things have gone much more smoothly this week.

&uot;(We’ve had) no problems at all related to last week,&uot; Davis said.

But Davis knows this can change rapidly.

&uot;The rumor mill is dead now but it can crank up anytime here,&uot;&160;he added.

Any rumors or problems on campus are taken seriously by school officials and police, Davis said.

School is a place to learn, not a place for fighting, said Natchez Police Chief Willie Huff.

&uot;I hope the actions of the last couple of weeks will send a message,&uot; Huff said.

The district is in the process of looking into two incidents that occurred at the high school this week. Wednesday, $80 worth of lunch money was reported missing from the school cafeteria. The money was not locked away properly but the district has been unable to locate a suspect.

Also this week, Davis said a female student at Natchez High School threatened to hit ninth-grade Principal Bobby Brown with a book.

The school is looking into the matter, but charges have not yet been filed, Davis said.

Some of the arrested students will have hearings this week to determine further punishment by the school.