(MT. VERNON, IL) — The MVTHS Board of Education announced Tuesday that they will be holding a closed session meeting on Thursday, February 9th at 3:00pm in the MVTHS board room. This is the second closed meeting in a tumultuous three week period for the board. The last meeting held on Wednesday January 25th was often animated from the view out in the hallway, and after two hours in the board room, members of the board dispersed, tight-lipped, with many of them avoiding contact with the media and citizens awaiting any word that might come out of the session. The initial meeting, stemming from a recent decision to remove the athletic director position, currently held by Head Boys Basketball Coach Doug Creel, from the administration, was another demonstration of a board under duress from the comments in social media among citizens to the unease of the students and teachers at the school in regards to the popular long time coach. Superintendent Dr. Michael Smith was left to answer questions for the Board several minutes after adjournment. Smith indicated that the Board was still in the process of gathering information and would welcome public comment through the proper channels. He encouraged citizens to attend the meetings and to bring forth their concerns to the board members. He also indicated that there may be some misinformation and inaccurate information in the public forum that needs to be cleared up as he reiterated that nothing has yet to be confirmed regarding the athletic director position or Creel’s tenure within that position. A Public Input Meeting was announced for Wednesday, February 8 and subsequently postponed indefinitely on January 30th. The meeting was suggested by concerned citizen, Randy Olson, and agreed upon by Smith, and members of the board. The meeting to discuss several questions and concerns at the high school, was postponed late in the afternoon hours Monday without reason given. Olson had indicated he and Smith are attempting to find a route to amicably prepare for the meeting in the way the questions are presented and topics discussed and currently are not in agreement on the terms.