Last week’s Question of the Week asked if readers thought the state has complied with the court’s school-funding order. A large majority thought not.

Among 698 responses to this unscientific poll, 443 said the state has yet to fund a “basic system of free quality public elementary and secondary schools,” while 255 said it has.

Gov. Brian Schweitzer, recently noting that schools have received large increases in state assistance during his years in office, challenged schools to explain why they still want more. Meanwhile, administrators at many school districts, including Helena’s, have said they face significant shortfalls for the next school year.

Some readers’ comments:

- The state has been short changing public schools for years, putting an increasing burden on property owners. While recent hikes have been nice, the state still does not provide for an adequate system of education. And because schools already have implemented just about all the cost cutting they can possibly do, it’s the kids who will pay.

- The governor says schools should be accountable for how they spend taxpayers’ money. A lot of people have thought that for a long time.

- Among the reasons reason school costs keep going up is that they keep being told to do more things, including the hugely expensive teaching of special education or at-risk students, they need to address maintenance and technological needs that have been deferred for too long, and they have to compete for high-quality teaching staff. Without adequate funding, the education of the overall student population is bound to suffer.

- School funding is like a black hole in space. It will take everything and want more.

- Sure, schools have to compete with other government problems for cash. Meanwhile, we keep getting tax rebates or credits because of a state revenue surplus. We get a few hundred bucks, our children’s education goes downhill. Go figure.