Rockingham County and Harrisonburg schools are teaming up to fight against gangs in the area.

Harrisonburg City Schools Superintendent Dr. Donald Ford says, "Well if you have even one gang member that's a problem."

Ford is taking a stand against gangs in the Harrisonburg-Rockingham County school systems.

He says, "It's really relatively minimal in the schools themselves that doesn't minimize the fact that it's important though to make sure that it doesn't get any larger."

The Commonwealth's Attorney for the area, Marsha Garst, is heading up the Gang Prevention Task Force that is asking the area's schools to join in.

Garst says, "The children that are choosing gangs are choosing a life of crime, drugs and desperation. There aren't happy endings in the gang world."

Rockingham County Schools Superintendent Dr. Carol Fenn has dealt with gang activity first hand. Earlier this year, a student added gang symbols to a class presentation.

Fenn says, "Where we have symbols or signs that gang activity might be occurring and we want to step in and be proactive and make a difference while we can."

The task force hopes to create alternative activates that will involve the community.

It also believes it will fill the void of a sense of belonging that often drives kids to gangs.

Garst says, "The most important asset we have in this community are our children. They're the one thing that we need to develop and cultivate. They are the future of this community."

Garst hopes that community members will step up and offer specialty services that will keep kids off the streets and out of gangs.

The force hopes to meet again before January to further discuss potential programs.