REDLANDS >> The cheerleader program at Redlands East Valley High School has been suspended.

The move comes after the release of a photo on social media that shows members of the varsity squad dressed in gang attire, wielding fake weaponry and throwing up gang signs.

A community meeting was held Wednesday morning to discuss the consequences for those involved and to come up with solutions moving forward.

A separate meeting Tuesday night with parents and members of the cheer squad was led by Principal John Maloney after the photo was brought to administrators’ attention.

“We started working on (the issue) yesterday when we first heard about it,” Maloney said Wednesday morning to a room of seven community leaders, called by Redlands Unified officials to discuss ways they could address the incident and cultural awareness.

Maloney said at Wednesday’s meeting that members of the cheer squad were given permission by team advisers to dress up in gang attire. Once the photo was brought to his attention, Maloney asked that the photo be immediately removed from all social media sites. His request was immediately granted, he said.

The move to deactivate the cheer program is temporary, he said.

Maloney and Jon Best, director of student services for the district, asked for recommendations on how to address the issue on campus, and what to do regarding the cheer squad and the coaches who allowed the activity.

“From what I have been told, this was not an isolated incident,” Redlands Police Officer and Community Service Officer Elyzabeth Green said at the meeting.

Green, like others in the room, received the photo Tuesday via email.

“This is very demeaning … and offensive,” said Maria Saucedo of the North Redlands Visioning Committee.

Maloney, Best and Assistant Principal Amanda Chann took notes, as Green, Saucedo and others discussed ideas.

Suggestions included prohibiting the cheer squad from participating in away-game activities the next school year — which begins on Wednesday — and performing community service.

“We are looking for a solution that will have a long-term effect,” Maloney said. “I think we have a great school, but we can’t be great when we have something like this happening. (This photo) is a step backwards for us.”

But he also said: “We need everybody’s help to make this work. We are looking for any solutions to address this problem.”

Maloney and district officials stressed that the issue would not be swept under the rug given the contents of the photo — especially a depiction of pregnancy and posing with presumably a fake gun. Having even a fake gun or knife on campus are grounds for expulsion, according to the state Education Code.

Another photo shows a girl having what appears to be a knife in her sock.

Maloney and district officials said it was too early to determine the consequences of all involved.

“It’s very important that we get accurate information and that we take our time doing this review. I don’t expect quick answers, but I do know we will get to the bottom of this,” said Superintendent Lori Rhodes.

The photo in question was posted to a cheerleader’s Instagram account before a screengrab of the photo made its way to a Facebook discussion page Tuesday morning.

It quickly gained several comments and likes before it was removed.

The photo was shared by a woman who had seen the photo on her niece’s cell phone and learned it was taken during a team-building exercise — a “Spirit Day” — inside the campus gymnasium. The image was posted to the page the day the school was holding freshman orientation to hundreds of incoming students.

When the image was taken and originally posted online was unknown.

Several students addressed the photo on Twitter, with one asking that any photos associated with “Gangsta Day” be removed on Tuesday.

Still, the damage was done.

“Our children are going to a school that preaches acceptance … but they don’t talk about it?” asked Pastor Anthony Green of Second Baptist Church of Redlands at Wednesday’s meeting.

As Wednesday’s meeting — which lasted more than an hour — came to a close, Maloney asked for contact information to keep those in the room updated.

Those in attendance were quick to grab a pen and jot down their information, but not without a few closing words.

“They need to learn from this,” Saucedo said. “They need to learn that all of this is not OK.”