Leaders of two prominent Lawrence religious schools rejoiced Thursday after learning the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the constitutionality of using public money for private school vouchers.

The superintendent of the 10,000-student Lawrence public school district said the ruling might be the most significant education decision since Brown v. Topeka Board of Education. But, unlike that “separate but equal” ruling of 1954, the latest decision clouds the future of public education, he said.

“It seems really problematic to me,” Supt. Randy Weseman said.

The court’s 5-4 opinion opens the door to state or federal government programs that give parents the option of using tax dollars to enroll their children in private schools.

Private schools’ popularity already is suspected as a factor in declining Lawrence public school enrollment. If a voucher system was established in Kansas, enrollment in religious and nonreligious alternative schools could mushroom.

“It would dramatically increase enrollment,” said Doug Bennett, board chairman of Veritas Christian School, 256 N. Mich.

About 120 students attend the school, paying about $3,000 each in tuition annually.

Chris Carter, headmaster of Bishop Seabury Academy, 1411 E. 1850 Road, said families of the 100 students enrolled at the private Episcopal school would welcome introduction of education vouchers.

Students who want to attend Bishop Seabury but can’t afford the $7,000 tuition also would benefit, he said. Sharing public education dollars would add socio-economic diversity to private schools, he said.

“Clearly, this ruling would seem to help us advance that goal,” Carter said.

Bob Voboril, president of the Kansas Association of Independent and Religious Schools, said the decision would give parents more options in the education of their children.

“It’s a victory for parents and a victory for the poor,” said Voboril, who also is superintendent of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Wichita. “Choices are good. It strengthens the providers and the consumers.”

There are 151 Kansas schools in the association. They account for nearly 40,000 students.

Weseman and Bennett said they would be interested in the fine print of government regulations that accompany a voucher system or the adoption of tax credits tied to private education.

“We’re mandated to serve all kids regardless of disability,” Weseman said. “Will the money now go to them without the mandates?”

Bennett, who has three children at Veritas, said his enthusiasm for the court’s ruling was tempered by thoughts of what strings could be attached to vouchers.

“If the government wants to come in and regulate us, not allow us to continue the program the way we’ve been doing it, that would be our concern,” he said.

Legislative attempts to establish a voucher program in Kansas have failed.