Unit 5 Superintendent Mark Daniel says the district is facing a $1.1 million deficit for the 2015-16 school years. (WJBC file photo)

By Eric Stock 

NORMAL – Unit 5 Superintendent Mark Daniel says the already cash-strapped school district could be in deeper red ink soon. 

Daniel told WJBC's Scott Laughlin, he doubts the state will deliver on its scheduled $1.5 million payment in the spring because the income tax was rolled back to 2011 levels at the start of the year. That coupled with the district's $1.1 million shortfall heading into next year leaves him looking for where to find the money. 

"It really boils down to personnel," Daniel said. " I don't know where we are going to find reductions in our personnel. We've reduced three to five people in our central office. We've reduced teachers."

Twenty-eight 28 teaching positions were cut through attrition this academic year. 

Daniel added he has no indication from the governor's office what Bruce Rauner plans to do for education. He delivers his State of the State address on Feb. 4 and his budget address on Feb. 18. 

He said Illinois schools offers a wide range of high-quality services, including guidance counselors, psychologists, social workers and more, but that comes at a cost. 

"If you expect to have 'X' number of teachers per students, extra curricular (activities), those are thing we are going to have to decide on," 

PODCAST: Listen to Scott and Colleen's interview with Daniel on WJBC. 
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].