Redding

I. BACKGROUND

Nestled next to the Pinaleno Mountains in southeastern Ari- zona, Safford is a small community of slightly under 10,000 residents. With a modest population, Safford maintains a sin- gle middle school that draws additional students from other neighboring small towns. In the late summer of 2003, Savana began a new school year as an eighth grader at Safford Mid- dle School along with approximately 200 other thirteen- and fourteen-year-old classmates.1 1 As with many middle schools throughout our circuit, Safford Middle School educates sixth through eighth graders. See WEBSTER’S THIRD NEW INTERNATIONAL DICTIONARY 1430 (1986) (defining middle school as “a division in some private or public schools embracing or approximately embracing the upper elementary grades”). Traditionally, middle school students range in age from eleven to fourteen. REDDING v. SAFFORD UNIFIED SCHOOL DIST. # 8425 On October 8, Savana was attending math class when Assistant Principal Kerry Wilson opened the classroom door and instructed her to pack up her belongings and accompany him to his office. Savana complied, gathered her things and followed Wilson down the hallway. Upon…