EAST CHICAGO | Extra police officers detailed to Central High School last month after student brawls triggered a lunchtime lockdown will remain there permanently, the district's top administrator said Monday.

Six officers patrol the hallways and grounds of the 1,500-student institution in the wake of a Feb. 22 melee. The fights resulted in suspensions for at least six students and recommendations of expulsion for at least two others, though no one was seriously injured.

Eventually, two of the officers will be reassigned to the city's two junior high schools, Superintendent Juan Anaya said at a regular meeting of the East Chicago School Board.

Central High also will be getting metal detectors for its entrances, said Gus Flores, newly hired district security director, as well as an improved video surveillance system linked to the Police Department's dispatch office.

School Board President Fernando Trevino directed a letter of thanks to Mayor George Pabey for approving funding for the additional five officers sent to the high school last month.

"We're looking closely at security," Flores said. "I have the complete support of the superintendent, the chief of police and the mayor in preserving a safe learning atmosphere for students, teachers and staff."

Anaya said the incident last month was "unfortunate," but should not be considered a riot.

"It was a fight among a handful of students," Anaya said. "Maybe 10 students out of 800 who were on their lunch period."

The decision to lockdown the school and send students home early at 1:30 p.m. that Friday was made because, after the fighting, "very little learning would have occurred if classes had remained in session," Anaya said.

The incident highlighted opportunities for improvement in security at the school, Trevino said, and teachers and staff were working on it.