Mansfield ISD Reverses Course on Reopening After Late-Night Road Check

School districts across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex split on whether to open or stay closed amid icy conditions.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 5:55pm

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Mansfield Independent School District in Texas initially announced it would reopen on Thursday, but reversed course early that morning after district officials conducted a late-night road check and deemed conditions unsafe due to black ice, especially around bus depots. While some districts in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, like Fort Worth and Arlington, decided to open, others like Dallas, Denton, Frisco, and Plano ISDs remained closed for the day.

Why it matters

The decision by Mansfield ISD to prioritize student and staff safety over reopening highlights the difficult choices school districts across the region are facing as winter weather impacts their operations. Keeping schools open is crucial, but ensuring safe conditions is the top priority, leading to a patchwork of reopening decisions across the metroplex.

The details

Mansfield ISD initially announced Wednesday night that schools would reopen on Thursday. However, district officials conducted a late-night road check starting at 1:30 a.m. and found dangerous black ice conditions, especially around bus depots. As a result, the district reversed course and canceled classes just hours before the start of the school day, leaving families to adjust their plans.

  • Mansfield ISD announced Wednesday night that schools would reopen on Thursday.
  • District officials conducted a late-night road check starting at 1:30 a.m. on Thursday.
  • Mansfield ISD canceled classes early Thursday morning due to the dangerous road conditions.

The players

Mansfield Independent School District

A public school district serving the city of Mansfield, Texas and surrounding areas in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

Rita Denton

The operations director for Mansfield ISD, who cited the black ice conditions and safety concerns as the reasons for the district's decision to reverse course and cancel classes.

Mirah Warthen

A parent with three children in Mansfield ISD schools, who was surprised by the last-minute cancellation and spent the day with her family engaging in various activities.

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What they’re saying

“We got up this morning about 5 a.m., and then our phone said no school.”

— Mirah Warthen, Parent (CBS News)

“What we had was a very dangerous layer of black ice, and that is what we experienced, especially at the bus barns.”

— Rita Denton, Operations Director, Mansfield ISD (CBS News)

What’s next

Mansfield ISD is still evaluating if schools will open on Friday. They plan to make that decision around sunset on Thursday, but will go out and re-evaluate the roads starting at 1:30 a.m. to ensure conditions are safe.

The takeaway

This case highlights the difficult decisions school districts must make to balance the need for in-person learning with the paramount concern of student and staff safety. Mansfield ISD's reversal underscores how rapidly changing winter weather conditions can impact school operations, requiring districts to remain vigilant and prioritize safety above all else.