Administrators from local school districts in the southwest were consulted on three issues regarding the operational aspects of staff development. First, an effort was made to ascertain the conditions determining whether staff development programs are mandatory or voluntary. While staff development for administrative personnel is normally mandatory, several factors work against mandatory staff development for teachers. The second issue discussed was the relationship between staff development and staff planning. Formal staff planning occurs most often in secondary schools, where teachers are organized by department, but rarely in elementary schools, or between elementary and secondary teachers. The third issue discussed was long- and short-term procedures for evaluating or guiding staff development as a district effort. These include daily "feedback" activities and subsequent followup. Staff development and planning are shaped primarily by the mechanics of finding or buying time when teachers are not in the classroom. (TE)