Topeka ? A group whose lawsuit forced a massive increase in state funding for public schools has decided to turn exclusively to lobbying, according to one of its attorneys.

Public school districts still participating in Schools for Fair Funding, which was once financed by 19 districts, met recently in Newton to decide how to move forward, said John Robb, a Newton attorney serving as general counsel to the nonprofit organization.

“The unanimous consensus was to keep the group together and shift the emphasis away from litigation and toward lobbying,” Robb said.

Lobbying activities will be financed through voluntary contributions by school districts in Kansas, and Robb said district superintendents in Wichita, Independence, Salina, Leavenworth, El Dorado, Emporia, Arkansas City, Newton, Augusta, Hays, Great Bend and Kansas City, Kan., have expressed support.

Schools for Fair Funding bankrolled a 1999 lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the state’s funding of K-12 education. Overall, Kansas districts donated $3.2 million over eight years to support the group’s lawsuits in state and federal court.

The Kansas Supreme Court ruled in the group’s favor in 2005, leading the Legislature to approve an $831 million increase in aid over four years, beginning with the 2005-06 academic year.

The Supreme Court dismissed the case last July.

Robb said Schools for Fair Funding would maintain a year-round relationship with Topeka lobbyists John Peterson and Bill Brady.

“They’re current on the issues and do a great job,” Robb said.

Alan Rupe, a Wichita attorney for Schools for Fair Funding, won’t have an active role in the altered group, but he could return if necessary, Robb said.

“He was our litigation counsel, and we’re not doing litigation anymore,” Robb said.