Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, is talking about $200 million for teacher pay raises, but with a focus on merit- and differential pay for those with high-demand credentials, such as math, science and special education. Reform efforts also are in the offing, including proposals to provide government vouchers for private school tuition, aimed at giving parents more school choices and injecting competition to make all schools better.

"We need to continue to do all that we can, continue putting pressure to raise the spending level for public education," Senate Majority Leader Curt Bramble, R-Provo, said in a recent interview about school vouchers. "But there are other things that have to be taken into account seriously, that have to be on the table."

Not everyone will agree on how school money should be spent. Maybe that's part of why it's hard for the public to see the effect more money has had on public schools. The state, suggests Jordan District Superintendent Barry Newbold, lacks a universally supported vision.

"I'm not being critical, because putting together a state vision and plan for education is no small task," he said. "But without something like that, we just go from individual priority to priority each year without focusing on major issues that make big differences."

With growth and maintenance expected to gobble up the bulk of the new dollars, Utah schools could get caught in a holding pattern for the next few years, Kroes said.

"One of the biggest political risks you face when you talk about education is to (fall into a) throw-up-our-hands-in-despair mentality, that we can put all this money in education, but will we see (a difference?)" Kroes said. "That's the question that crosses the minds of legislators when asking for this huge commitment of funds."

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E-mail: jtcook@desnews.com