Topeka ? Gov. Kathleen Sebelius on Wednesday vowed that if more funding was needed for public schools, it wouldn’t come out of social services.

“Anytime the Legislature is looking for money, there is the fear that they will come after programs for vulnerable Kansans,” Sebelius said to several hundred people rallying in support of programs for the elderly and Kansans with disabilities.

“We still need additional resources for schools, but they are not going to come out of the social services budget,” she said.

Sebelius’ comments and the rally came as the Legislature started its wrap-up session beneath the cloud of a pending court decision on school finance.

The Kansas Supreme Court is considering a new Republican school funding plan that would increase spending $125 million in response to a court order to increase funding and distribute those funds more fairly.

Critics of the plan say the increase is inadequate in the face of studies that say school funding needs an increase ranging from $600 million to $1 billion.

The issue of school finance wasn’t far from the minds of members of the Big Tent Coalition, which put together the rally.

The coalition, which represents 75 groups, was formed three years ago to fight social service budget cuts.

Funding has improved, but budgetary concerns remain.

Roy Miller of Fort Scott applauds comments by Shannon Jones, director of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Kansas, during the Big Tent Coalition Rally on Wednesday at the Statehouse in Topeka.

Many of those at the rally said social services would pay for any school funding increases ordered by the court.

“We will not be pitted against one another,” said Shannon Jones, spokeswoman for the coalition.

“Social services and poor people are usually the last to receive and the first to have dollars taken away,” said Greg Jones, with the Southeast Kansas Independent Living Council.

Bob Mikesic, advocacy coordinator and Americans with Disabilities Act specialist for Independence Inc. in Lawrence, distributed literature at the event.

“We don’t want to take money away from anything that is needed in the state budget, but if the Legislature needs more funding for schools, we don’t want that taken away from social services,” Mikesic said.

Kathy Lobb, with the Lawrence-based Self Advocate Coalition of Kansas, said maintaining social service programs was important to improve the lives of Kansans with disabilities.

“Their lives are better,” she said, “when they are able to advocate for themselves.”

— Staff writer Scott Rothschild can be reached at (785) 354-4222.