REDLANDS, Calif. – Redlands East Valley High School’s cheerleading squad is gangsta.

At least that’s how the group’s 13 young girls sought to portray themselves in a recent photo posted to Facebook that’s drawing scorn from school leaders, who have labeled the goofy stunt “offensive” and suspended the program, NBC reports.

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The girls – who were wearing wife-beater tank tops, top-buttoned flannel shirts, baggie pants and were brandishing gang signs – participated in the prank as part of team building exercise a few weeks ago at a student event with the approval of their staff advisor, according to news reports.

Several of the teens scrawled fake tattoos across their stomachs, while others stuffed their shirts to appear pregnant or flashed fake guns. The school district learned of the photo Tuesday and officials suspended the squad while they investigate the incident, according to a school statement.

“I find this picture offensive, and this type of depiction will not be tolerated,” Lori Rhodes, district superintendent, said in the statement, according to NBC. “I apologize that any Redland USD student organizations would be involved in this type of activity.

“Team building exercises such as dress-up days are to build spirit and camaraderie in a positive manner. They should never demean, insult or portray negative stereotypes, as done in this photo,” Rhodes said.

Several parents seemed to agree.

“Anything stereotypical in a negative light like that is not funny, especially at somebody else’s expense,” parent Tracy Gomez told the news site. “Teenage pregnancy, gun violence.”

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“I think that the teacher who approved it, the administration, whoever approved it should have thought a little better about that because it just, it puts us in a poor light,” said parent Nicole Scott.

Virtually everyone the news site spoke with who actually knew the girls said they didn’t believe the cheerleaders meant to degrade anyone, and were just joking around.

Some parents also seemed to understand that the teens were not being malicious, and were simply doing what high schoolers do.

“I think they were just being teenagers, having fun, being silly,” parent Sherry Garcia told NBC.

However the ordeal plays out, it seems Redlands school officials have plenty of other more important problems on their hands.

A simple online search shows several former school teachers in the district have been convicted of sexually assaulting students, including at least one who became pregnant as a result.