Their plea may be too late.

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. has already signed this session's $1.78 billion school-funding measure, minus the $163 million for key budget requests from the state school board.

Meanwhile, transportation funding will soar by at least $70 million - and possibly another $50 million if some lawmakers have their way.

Supplemental appropriations for education are still a remote possibility, however, and the leaders of several education groups, during a Wednesday news conference, pressed for that additional funding.

They questioned lawmakers' fiscal priorities given their rush to dedicate much of a larger-than-expected budget surplus to roads. That contradicts past commitments to education, said Utah Education Association President Pat Rusk.

"Only months ago, we heard all the campaign promises," she said. "That was then. This is now. . . . When did the public say, 'We need more roads and buildings.' When did they say 'We want tuition tax credits.' They didn't. Whose priorities are these?"

Political scientists are just as baffled.

Huntsman didn't ask for that much transportation funding, and election-day polls didn't indicate much voter interest in roads.

"It's a bit of a mystery," said Quin Monson, an associate professor of political science at Brigham Young University. "Transportation was not something that was talked about in campaigns, nor was it on anyone's radar screen in terms of voters."

State school board Chairman Kim Burningham said the budget leaves out funding for critical programs, such as tutoring help for students who are in danger of not graduating because they failed the high school exit exam.

The board also wanted money to strengthen math instruction in grades four through six.

Joining Rusk and Burningham at the news conference were Utah PTA President Joanne Nielson, Utah School Superintendents Association President Martell Menlove and Utah School Boards Association President William Moore.

rlynn@sltrib.com