Because many school districts now face reductions in teaching and administrative staff, this short article provides information about administrative policies and roles in reducing school staffs. A section on the legal precedents for releasing tenured teachers sets out some relevant court decisions and the conditions necessary for reduction of tenured staff. The author addresses 14 commonly asked questions, including those about the steps personnel administrators should take in reductions in force, the problem of establishing seniority, the roles of principals and superintendents in school closings, the planning necessary for a reduction in force, and the ways that school districts can prevent job security from becoming a contract issue. The provisions of the retirement incentive program used by the Pasadena Unified School District (California) are included, as is a memorandum from the superintendent of the Bedford (Massachusetts) public schools that announces the dismissal of teachers and details the steps for teachers to apply for transfer. The article concludes with a list of other sources of information on reductions in force. (JW)