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AHOSKIE – The new school year did not get off to a great start here Tuesday at Hertford County High School.

Juvenile criminal petitions were lodged by the school system against three HCHS students, including one carrying a weapon.

Dr. William Wright Jr., Superintendent of Hertford County Public Schools, said two fights at the high school broke out on Tuesday. He said the first fight occurred between two students in the Media Center, while the second altercation occurred later outside the school, in front of the cafeteria.

In the first fight, Wright said one of the students involved immediately left campus when the altercation ended.

“The second student was waiting to be picked up by a family member when the second fight started,” Wright said.

The Superintendent added that school staff broke up both fights.

Hertford County Sheriff Dexter Hayes, along with several of his deputies as well as Ahoskie Police officers, responded to the high school. Hayes said the School Resource Officer at HCHS had requested assistance due to what was described as “a large fight in front of the school.”

“Hertford County Sheriff’s deputies, Ahoskie Police officers and I were in a support role to assist the Hertford County High School staff who did a great job handling the incident,” Hayes said.

As for the student found in possession of a weapon, Wright said that individual was not physically involved in either fight.

“A member of the high school staff observed that student fidgeting with something in his pocket, which was determined to be a knife,” Wright said.

Wright added that the students involved, “will be dealt with at the fullest extent allowed by school board policy and state statutes. We will not tolerate this behavior at any of our schools.”

The Superintendent stated that “all of the main perpetrators of these incidents on Tuesday will not be allowed back on the HCHS campus for the remainder of the school year.”

“Dr. Wright and I are working closely to assure that we are providing a safe environment for our kids to learn,” said Sheriff Hayes. “We are currently placing law enforcement personnel in our schools to continue to keep and make our schools safe.”