Topeka ? Gov. Kathleen Sebelius today said she would call lawmakers back into a special legislative session June 22 to increase school funding in reaction to a Kansas Supreme Court order.

“What we have is a directive and a timetable, and the future of our children’s education is on the table,” Sebelius said after meeting with legislative leaders.

“I can’t imagine a more important job to do than making sure that we have great schools in every community and good education for all of our kids,” she said.

It will be the first special session since 1989.

“We realize we have to meet the court’s mandate,” Senate President Steve Morris, R-Hugoton, said in a joint news conference with Sebelius, a Democrat.

House Speaker Doug Mays, R-Topeka, met with Sebelius, Morris and other legislative leaders, but had to leave earlier.

When he emerged from the meeting, Mays didn’t sound optimistic.

“I have no idea where this is going,” he said. He said the calling back members to Topeka was a “major ordeal” for some legislators.

Last week, the Kansas Supreme Court ordered the Legislature to increase school funding by $285 million by July 1, which is less than four weeks away.

The court said a Republican plan to increase school funding by $142 million was too low, and that the proposal to allow local districts to raise local taxes was unfair to property-poor school districts.

Sebelius, Morris and Mays said there were no specific options under consideration, but that a wide range of proposals would probably be discussed.

Sebelius called for a bipartisan solution.

“It’s clear that partisan plans don’t work, haven’t worked,” she said.

The leaders agreed to call for a new revenue estimate to see if improvements in the economy would help produce the needed money.

Sebelius dismissed comments by some Republicans who have said the state Supreme Court overstepped its authority in the school decision.

“I think they need to go back and read the Constitution,” she said.