State support for kindergarten through 12th grade public education -- and how much is enough -- is always going to be a highly political issue.

School district superintendents contacted by the IR State Bureau for a story on Monday say that much of the money approved for schools is in the form of one-time spending, and that by this time next year schools could be facing cutbacks or asking voters to approve higher local taxes.

Others, of course, would argue that educators' demands are insatiable, and that meeting them would ignore other important needs.

But in an accompanying article Monday, State Bureau reporter Mike Dennison found that in a more concrete measurement -- how much beginning teachers get paid -- Montana ranks a lot lower than nearby states.

In both Idaho and Wyoming, state officials have worked to improve teachers' salaries, and the numbers show it. For instance, in the Superior school district, 40 miles from the Idaho border, starting teachers make just $22,700. But this year the Idaho Legislature increased the minimum teacher salary in that state to $31,000.

Likewise, Montana's biggest school district in Billings pays a starting grade school teacher $32,000 a year. Contrast that with the much smaller district in Gillette, Wyo., where starting teachers begin at $42,500 this fall.

(The Helena school district starts teachers at $32,800 -- the highest beginning rate in Montana.)

You can argue all you want about how much state educational funding is enough, but out there in the real world Montana school districts are at a distinct disadvantage in competition for teaching talent -- talent that probably is the single most important part of educating our kids.