Declining enrollment almost inevitably means reduction in force--specifically, in the number of teachers. The author of this paper maintains that this process need not be as traumatic as some think. He suggests basing teaching personnel needs on midyear enrollment projections, rather than on first-of-the-year projections, since the number of…

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…