Walkers on a three-day march to Topeka to raise awareness of funding and policy issues affecting Kansas public schools received an enthusiastic welcome to Lawrence on Saturday as they arrived at South Park, 1141 Massachusetts St.

About 200 people rallied in South Park on Saturday to welcome walkers on a three-day march to Topeka to raise awareness of funding and policy issues affecting Kansas public schools.

As soon as the walkers came into view, a crowd of about 200 people clapped, cheered and began chanting, “Support our schools.” Those lining the sidewalk extended their hands, high-fiving the walkers as they arrived.

Those gathered were participants in the Rally for Public Education organized by the parent legislative advocacy group Educate Lawrence in support of the walkers and their cause. The group of about 30 walkers was made up of members of Game On for Kansas Schools, a public education advocacy group.

Vanessa Sanburn of Educate Lawrence and a member of the Lawrence school board, opened the rally by stressing the importance of supporting policies that benefit public education in Kansas.

“It’s important that the public and teachers continue to send this message to Topeka,” she told the crowd.

Speakers at the rally included Rep. Tom Sloan and Rep. John Wilson. Wilson told the crowd recent legislation decreasing school funding and limiting the rights of teachers constitutes a war on education.

“I’m sad that in the 21st century in Kansas, we have to spend our Saturdays rallying for public education,” Wilson said. “It just doesn’t make any sense.”

Sloan also expressed his concern for legislation negatively affecting public education in Kansas and thanked the walkers and the crowd for their active support.

“Too many people are apathetic,” Sloan said. “Too many people may read the newspaper or listen to the news and say we should do something.” He said Kansas needs to better support K-12 and higher education and that the 2016 election should serve as a referendum on education.

Game On for Kansas Schools members joined the crowd, which included parents, teachers, school board members and students. Children sat on blankets in the grass and several climbed trees in the park, watching the rally from perches in the limbs.

Lawrence resident Lori Greenfield, a teacher at Prairie Park Elementary with three children in the Lawrence Public Schools, said that the legislative representatives are not doing their jobs to support kids in Kansas.

“More people across Kansas need to be speaking up because our kids are our future, and if we don’t educate them, what’s our future going to be like?” Greenfield asked.

Eudora resident Becky Plate, who attended the rally with her two teenage daughters, said adequate public education has a lasting impact on the kids in school now and their respective communities.

“Whether you have kids in school or not, the public needs to be aware of what elected officials are voting for, and they have to be held accountable,” Plate said.

Kansas University student Brooklynne Mosley expressed concern for the lasting impact as well, saying, “If you don’t invest in education, families will leave Kansas.”

Game On for Kansas Schools members began the walk from Merriam on Friday and will complete the final leg of the 60-mile march Monday upon their arrival at the Capitol in Topeka.

Lenexa resident Amber Versola, formerly of Lawrence, is one of the walkers participating in the march. The mother of one said she’s been discouraged by what’s happening in Topeka.

“I looked at my son and thought that I have a responsibility to be out there,” Versola said of her decision to take part in the walk.

After the rally, the walkers sat down at picnic tables in the park to have lunches provided by Educate Lawrence. Sanburn said they were glad to organize the rally to both welcome and support Game On for Kansas Schools.

“To give them a jolt of passion from our community, because we share enthusiasm for their message,” she said.