Mansfield's Back-to-School Bash packs a wallop

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By Amanda Rogers

Mansfield Record

Approximately 13,000 parents, students, teachers, administrators and local business people swarmed the Dr. Jim Vaszauskas Center for Performing Arts on Saturday for the Mansfield ISD’s annual Back-to-School Bash.

Students lined up for shoes, haircuts, backpacks, immunizations, dental checks, school supplies, sports physicals, nutrition info and transportation schedules. All free, thanks to the school district, sponsors and vendors. The event raised $115,000 to provide the free goods and services to the students, said Katie Flowers, director of community relations for the Mansfield ISD.

“We are excited for all our students and families to get prepared for the school year without having to pay for supplies,” Flowers said. “It lessens the load for those that need it.”

The popular event started at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, and drew an early crowd.

“We ran out of parking right after the event started,” Flowers said. “We shuttled them in from Legacy and Summit high schools.”

More than 300 volunteers helped pass out 2,500 pairs of shoes and 4,000 backpacks stuffed with school supplies.

All of the schools in the Mansfield ISD had booths to pass out info about their campuses, in addition to more than 100 local vendors, providing everything from medical info to martial arts. The Summit High School marching band, high school drill teams and cheerleaders also performed.

The popular event has become the traditional way to kick off the school year for Mansfield families. Classes begin Aug. 12 in the Mansfield ISD.