School districts faced with declining enrollments can utilize several strategies for dealing with reductions in force while saving money, minimizing terminations, and creating new opportunities. Schools should be staffed on the basis of midyear projections to avoid too great a degree of overstaffing by year's end. An early retirement plan should be adopted. A strong policy of termination for cause will help eliminate unsatisfactory teachers instead of those merely low in seniority. Declining districts can cooperate with neighboring growing districts to place surplus staff members. Surplus teachers who are not placed elsewhere can serve as a well-trained corps of substitutes. Aggressive attempts to obtain project funding may provide new jobs for displaced staff. Secondary teachers can be trained to take elementary teaching positions. Communications between potential surplus personnel and district officials must be kept open and district commitments to personnel must be made clear. (Author/PGD)