KENNEWICK, Wash. -- Local school officials have turned to a Web site popular among teenagers in an effort to crack down on gang activity on campus.

Kamiakin High School kicked three students out of school for allegedly flashing gang signs on campus, then posting them on their profiles on the Web site, MySpace.com.

The pictures caught the eyes of school leaders, who have a zero-tolerance policy against such activities.

"We're not just talking about someone skipping school and then we're taking action on that," district spokesperson Lorraine Cooper said. "When you're talking about gang activity, you're talking about a possible threat to the safety of students. And since the safety of students is our number one priority, that required fast action."

Cooper said it's clear the students were at school when the photos were taken.

"Yeah, it's obvious," she said. "It had Kamiakin library in the background."

Three Kamiakin students were hauled before the school board last week to answer questions about the photos. Board members reviewed the photos as well as each of the students' past histories in deciding on an appropriate punishment.

School officials ruled the students' actions posed immediate danger to the student body and issued an emergency expulsion for each of the three students.

"If we did not act on that threat and something came to pass later, we would all be feeling really bad about that," Cooper said.

The school did not elaborate on the expelled students' records, but Kennewich police said the three have no criminal history they're aware of.

Officers also added while the teens' pictures may have been against school policy, they are not against the law as the photos showed no weapons or drugs.

But the teens may not have to miss out on the rest of the school year. According to the school's policy, the parents of the teens have ten days to request a hearing. Then the case would go before a retired school official, who will determine whether the school's punishment was commensurate with the crime.

The parents also have the option of appealing directly to the school board.

Records show Kennewick police have not responded to any major gang-related incidents at any of the schools in the district this year.