Topeka ? Gov. Kathleen Sebelius today sought to reassure Kansans that public schools will remain open despite a court order threatening to stop school funding.

State District Court Judge Terry Bullock, who has declared the Kansas school finance system unconstitutional and discriminatory, on Tuesday ruled that he would order funding of schools to stop June 30 if the Legislature didn’t correct the inequities.

6News video: Lawrence parents react to school finance announcement Fix or close schools, judge orders state (5-12-04) Read Bullock’s Decision and Order Remedy (5-11-04) What happened, and what’s next (5-12-04) Across Kansas, parents ponder order’s meaning (5-12-04) May 11 letter from Atty. Gen. Phill Kline to Gov. Sebelius 6News video: Judge orders state to end school funding (05-11-04) Legislature’s inaction puts district in limbo (05-11-04) 6News video: School officials left with tough choices (05-10-04) Analysis: Legislative leaders fail to broker key deals (05-10-04) Lawmakers end session without plan for schools (05-09-04) Negotiators reach deal on $108 million school funding package (5-07-04) More in School Finance

On Wednesday, the state filed a request with the Kansas Supreme Court to halt Bullock’s order.

“We’re fairly confident that the Supreme Court will allow schools to remain open as it reviews this complicated and extraordinary case,” Sebelius said during a news conference.

Bullock had earlier given the Legislature until July 1 to change the school finance system, which he said underfunded all students, especially minorities.

Last week, the Legislature ended its session without providing any increase in funding for schools, nor making changes in the method of distributing funds.

Sebelius, who had unsucessfully pushed for tax increases for schools, said the failure to pump new revenue into education will result in teacher layoffs, cuts in programs and increased class sizes.

“The Legislature’s failure to act on a school finance plan this year, will mean that there is pain felt around the state,” Sebelius said.

Sebelius said she has not ruled out calling lawmakers into a special session, but that decision depends on when the Kansas Supreme Court issues a ruling on Bullock’s initial finding that the school finance system is unconstitutional. The court is scheduled to hear arguments in the case Sept. 2 and could rule as early as mid-October.

Sebelius also said there is no attempt being made to try to come up with one last-ditch school-funding proposal for lawmakers to consider on May 27, the office end of the 2004 session, which has traditionally been a formality.

She said it didn’t appear any lawmakers have changed their positions.

“Certainly the proponents of school funding are anxious to get something done, but they have been at the table since January. The folks who ended up voting no, saying we are going to wait for the court to order us to do something, are really the people who need to weigh in on this, and so far there has been no evidence that they are,” she said.