Aid to LI schools on Paterson's chopping block

The state education commissioner paid a visit to Long Island Monday to discuss Gov. David Paterson?s call for mid-year education cuts.
Paterson proposes cutting school aid 4.5 percent to help close a $3 million budget gap.
Education Commissioner Dr. David Steiner met with school officials like Great Neck Public Schools Superintendent Thomas Dolan, who says such cuts would be detrimental to local schools.
Dolan told Steiner that Long Island typically absorbs a larger proportion of cuts than do other parts of the state and that mid-year cuts would mean changes to school programs already in process.
The state Senate and Assembly are slated to vote on the governor's agenda Tuesday.