Topeka ? Eighty-six students from Southwest Junior High School in Lawrence arrived Thursday morning, rallying on the steps of the State Capitol to urge lawmakers to adequately fund public schools.

“We don’t want schools to have to cut their budgets,” said Claire Penzler, a Southwest student and one of the organizers of the event.

The students raised nearly $650 from a bake sale and donations to pay for the trip to Topeka.

After the rally, the students planned to meet with lawmakers and observe deliberations in the Kansas House before returning to Lawrence.

Because of slumping state revenues, Lawrence school officials have proposed $5 million in budget cuts that would reduce funding to special education, nursing, counseling, foreign language and some extracurricular programs.

The students called for tax increases to help fund schools or changes in the way state school funds are divided.

Some students said some small, rural districts should be consolidated to save money that could be spread throughout the state public school system.

After the rally, eighth-grader Rachel Bremby said lawmakers should increase taxes, even if that jeopardizes their re-election attempts.

“The big picture is, even if they are not re-elected, raising taxes would help education,” she said.