Rapidly increasing Navajo enrollment in San Juan County, Utah, public schools in the 1960's forced the rural school district to improve educational services to a sizable Navajo population while attempting to preserve local control in the face of changing Indian self-determination policy. The district implemented a Curriculum Development Center, a bilingual/bicultural program, and new staffing patterns. In 1974 the district also contracted with Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory for the Rural Futures Development (RFD) Strategy, a method of achieving significant educational innovation via broad community support while preserving local control. Six education agencies helped plan for the Strategy activities which included selection of four facilitators, needs assessment, identification of three School Community Groups (SCGs), determination of educational concerns, and facility planning. By 1979, when 50% of district Navajo students attended public schools, the RFD Strategy of community involvement had resulted in passage of a $7 million bond issue, construction of one high school and planning of another, SCGs in every county community, and increased communication between educators and the community. In addition, the district had produced many Navajo language instructional materials and employed Indians in professional and paraprofessional positions. (SB)