Mansfield ISD hears from the public regarding Dallas Stars Ice Center proposal

The Mansfield ISD school board heard a lot of details Thursday night regarding a plan to build a hockey and ice skating venue in their city.

Part of the plan put forth by Mansfield city leaders calls for school district cash, and a contract with the Dallas Stars.

The public also weighed in on the proposal, and whether using district funds to help pay for the ice rink is a winning deal.

The ice rink would go on the east side of US Highway 287, just north of Broad St.

For those in the Mansfield skating community it means not having to drive to Arlington to the Parks Mall or Euless in order to skate.

The ice center was approved by the city last week on one condition. The school district must pitch in $1.8 million of the more than $12 million cost. Half-a-million would go to a one time construction cost. The rest would go to the Dallas Stars as a usage fee for MISD to do educational programs, skating programs, and field trips.

MISD says it will use gas and oil royalty income to cover the cost, but not everyone is ready to strap on the skates.

Guy Pope and his wife Karen question whether the ice center would make enough money to be worth the investment of school funds. They say they're concerned it will run a deficit and cost taxpayers more.

Neither the city of Mansfield, nor the school district have a hockey team.

If the school board votes "no" the proposal will go back to the city council to decide whether to continue with the project using city funds instead.