HELENA — The coalition that sued the state over public-school funding rolled out its own plan Wednesday to fix the system, proposing changes that could add at least $260 million a year to school spending in Montana.

If implemented at once, the wide-ranging plan would increase overall spending on Montana public schools by at least 20 percent.

But a spokesman for the Montana Quality Education Coalition said its plan could be phased in over several years.

Jack Copps also said while the plan appears expensive, that should come as no surprise, since the Legislature has not provided adequate state funding for schools in a decade.

"It may look expensive, but, very frankly, it looks expensive because the state's share of funding for schools has dropped 17 percent behind inflation over the past 10 years," he said. "That's part of the problem. We need to act now." Elements of the proposal include:

A new $4,000-per-teacher payment for school districts. The calculation would include school administrators, and has an annual price-tag of about $45 million.

A $500 increase in per-student payments to elementary schools, whose current per-student payment from the state is about $1,200 less than high school payments. This change would cost an additional $50 million.

Increased per-student payments based on a district's number of disabled students or students from poor families. This proposal could add up to $120 million a year, based on current enrollment figures.

Per-school district payments that increase with a district's size. Under the current formula, the state's per-school payment is the same, regardless of a school's size. This proposal also would increase the minimum payment to elementary schools. It would cost about $15 million, with larger schools benefiting the most.

A per-student payment of $100 to help infuse teaching of Native American culture into school curriculum, as required by the state constitution. Based on current enrollment, the cost would be about $15 million.

Providing some form of assistance to finance health insurance for school employees.

The coalition, which includes school districts, education groups, unions and parents, will formally present the plan to the Quality Schools Interim Committee on Friday.

The legislative panel is working to devise a new system of public school funding, in the wake of this year's Supreme Court ruling declaring the current system unconstitutional.

The high court, ruling in favor of the coalition, said in March that state funding of schools is inadequate, and must be revised.

If the committee can craft a proposed solution, lawmakers are expected to meet in special session later this year to consider it.

Rep. Monica Lindeen, D-Huntley, who chairs the committee, could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

David Ewer, the governor's budget director and a non-voting member of the committee, declined to respond specifically to the coalition's proposal.

But he did say that it's the job of the Legislature "not the coalition" to come up with a proper solution for school funding in Montana.

"This committee is certainly able to consider the (coalition's) ideas," he said. "But the (coalition) does not drive the remedy. I don't think it's appropriate to negotiate with the (coalition)." While the coalition's proposal appears expensive, Copps said he believes the Legislature could adopt portions of it without raising overall taxes.

"We believe the state has the resources necessary to fulfill its obligations right now," he said. "An acceptable phase-in could be over a period of four years, or five years.

"But the state has an obligation to do as much as it can right now. It should be putting it off for the sake of putting it off." The latest budget estimates say the state treasury has a surplus approaching $300 million. However, Ewer and others have cautioned that the extra money is needed for many things State public employee pension funds face a potential long-term deficit of $1.2 billion, and the Schweitzer administration has said it may propose a cash infusion of up to $100 million.

Jim Molloy, the lead attorney for the coalition, also sent a letter to the Legislature's chief lawyer Wednesday, saying lawmakers do not have to devise an entirely new funding formula.

The coalition's proposal modifies and adds to the current funding system, and that's alright, Molloy said: "It is not necessary that the existing distribution formula be entirely abandoned in order to comply with the court decision."