Large crowd of ‘Crusaders’ expected to attend tonight’s school board meeting – Macomb Daily | #hacking | #aihp

A crowd of parents, coaches and athletes are expected to attend tonight’s school board meeting for L’Anse Creuse Public Schools where a crumbling football field puts safety and school sports in jeopardy. MACOMB DAILY FILE PHOTO

Mike Zuckero is an assistant varsity football coach for L’Anse Creuse North high school so Monday night practices during the season make it difficult for him to attend a school board meeting.

But there’s no football being played on the field now.

Nor is the band, cheer, soccer, lacrosse, or any team using the field due to the unsafe conditions, which is why nothing will stop him from attending tonight’s school board meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Harry L. Wheeler Center.

“We’re expecting a huge turnout,” said Zuckero, whose 16-year-old son plays football and lacrosse for LCN and who has a younger son, 12, playing football for the Chesterfield Chargers, which also uses the field.

“There’s going to be people from Macomb Township, Chesterfield, Harrison Township and Mount Clemens,” Zuckero said, of the coaches, parents, athletes and even teachers attending the meeting to hear what the administration plans to do about the athletic fields.

The turf on the football field is ripped in numerous spots.

The field goal posts are bent.

The track has holes on it.

“Nobody wants to come here because of the neglect of many of these athletic fields,” said Zuckero, noting that the facilities have been dilapidated for years and while patches and repairs have been made, the primary issues now are a safety concern.

LCN graduate Tyler Conkiln, who plays in the National Football League for the New York Jets reportedly fired off a tweet saying he wanted to hold his annual camp at the high school but can’t because of the field’s condition.

“The field is so bad that yesterday’s soccer refs canceled the game because the field was unsafe to play on,” said Janell Raymond, who is the parent of a student athlete and is helping to rally people to the meeting.

Both Zuckero and Raymond say the lack of attention to the athletic fields is also hurting the district in terms of enrollment, as student athletes become discouraged by the playing conditions and look to play elsewhere.

“Our young athletes deserve so much better,” she said. “Families are considering transferring due to the lack of support from the board.”

Zuckero concurred.

“L’Anse Creuse North has the support of its teachers, coaches and the community,” he said. “It’s too bad we don’t have the support of those in charge.”

L’Anse Creuse Public Schools Board of Education is expected to respond to the concerns surrounding its athletic field during tonight’s meeting at 6:30 p.m.

The Harry L.Wheeler Center is at 24076 Pankow Blvd., in Clinton Township