The key to successful management of staffing during decline, this paper says, is advance planning. It suggests several steps to take via analyzing, prioritizing, economizing, and publicizing before reduction in force hits the school. Administrators should make projections and predictions on enrollments, revenues and expenditures and facilities and staff; establish their district's goals and priorities; evaluate the program; publicize all of this; clear up contract language; and revise personnel policies and practices not in the contract to eliminate restrictive provisions. The paper also suggests that administrators develop guidelines consistent with statutory and case law and with the provisions of union contracts. Other issues discussed include keeping state legislative and executive leaders informed, retaining a capable management staff, and developing an early retirement incentive. (Author/LD)