"We need to prepare our students better for the future," House Minority Leader Ralph Becker said at a news conference Tuesday.

The Democrats' theme is not new. What is different this year is that circumstances seem to be smiling on Utah's usually thwarted minority.

First, the state is awash in a record-breaking $1 billion revenue surplus - about $450 million of it is already collected, the rest is projected growth in tax revenues.

Second, the Democrats have found a kindred spirit in popular Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.

Huntsman, a Republican who wants to be remembered as the "economic development governor," last month unveiled a proposed $9.6 billion state budget that shares many of the Democrats' education priorities. The governor, for instance, agrees that a "world-class education" for Utah children is crucial to attracting business.

"We are very comfortable with the governor's plan," Becker said.

Despite the distraction of the dazzling tax cuts suggested by Huntsman ($60 million) and House Republicans (a whopping $230 million), the Democrats stressed that lawmakers need to make public education a priority in this time of plenty.

"If the surpluses continue, we can talk about tax cuts," said Rep. Lou Shurtliff, D-Ogden. "But for now, let's use the surplus to fund education, transportation and other needs that we have put off."

Rep. Carol Spackman Moss, D-Holladay, is proposing $35 million go to reducing class sizes to 20 students in kindergarten through third grade.

To improve teacher qualifications, Sen. Karen Hale, D-Salt Lake City, wants to provide financial assistance to teachers seeking national board certification. So far, only 79 Utah teachers have certified for this "master teacher" ranking, at an approximate cost of $2,300 each.

Democrats join Huntsman in calling for for all-day kindergarten as a way to close Utah's achievement gap among minority and poor students. "[Kindergarten] is an area the figures show we can make a difference," said Rep. Brad King, D-Price.

The average book in Utah school libraries is 20 years old, said Rep. Tim Cosgrove, D-Murray. He proposes buying one new book per child per year for school libraries.

Key to the Democrats' blueprint is a Shurtliff proposal that would mandate at least 90 percent of the state's Uniform School Fund - made up of income tax collections - go to public education. Public education's share has declined from 95.6 percent in 1997 to 86 percent in 2006. A constitutional change in the 1990s allows school money to be diverted to higher education operations and capital facilities.

Though the Democrats were vague on the dollar amounts their initiatives would require, they say it would be affordable if public education recovered even 4 percent of the money that has been siphoned from the school fund in 2006.

Democrats' plan

Utah's minority party calls for:

l Requiring at least 90 percent of the state's income tax collections go directly to public education.

l Spending $35 million to hire teachers to reduce class sizes.

l Providing financial assistance for teachers seeking national board certification.

l Buying thousands of books to improve aging school library collections.

l Creating a $700,000 fund to help high schools that must waive school fees for large numbers of low-income students.

l Establishing voluntary all-day kindergarten.