Photos by John McCabe Area teachers and service employees demonstrate in Wheeling as part of a statewide strike.

WHEELING — As teachers and school employees across West Virginia plan to strike for a third day on Monday, state Superintendent of Schools Steven Paine said officials are considering “legal action” regarding the work stoppage.

Ohio County officials decided late last night to close schools on Monday. Ohio County Board of Education President Zach Abraham on Saturday expressed frustration with the matter, which involves teachers and school service workers picketing in protest over four issues: pay, fully funding the Public Employees Insurance Agency, seniority issues and what’s known as the paycheck protection act, which, if passed, would require employees each year to approve union payments being deducted from their checks.

“I just don’t understand what their long-term plan is, and what solutions they are wanting. What is the gain in this? And what do they want to accomplish? They seem to have no plan, and nothing that they are asking for,” Abraham said of the striking workers.

County superintendents from across West Virginia participated in a conference call with Paine Saturday, during which administrators contemplated their response to the walkouts. Late Saturday, Paine issued a statement regarding the call.

“Many asked whether the state was planning to pursue legal action in this matter. A decision will be made on Monday if an agenda item will be added to the State Board of Education meeting scheduled for Tuesday to discuss legal action. If an item is added and the agenda is amended, the public will be notified on Monday,” Paine said.

Paine’s statement follows that of Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, who has characterized the strike as “illegal.”

Participating in the Saturday call with Paine from Ohio County were Superintendent Kim Miller, Assistant Superintendent Rick Jones and Human Resources Director Susan Nolte.

Jones said the call addressed the situation around the state “as a whole,” with superintendents providing input. He said in the end, Ohio County officials left the office Saturday without determining a course of action.

“We will meet again (today),” Jones said. “We haven’t been able to come to a conclusion.”

Board members will be involved in the decision, ‘but we haven’t spoken to everybody,” according to Jones.

Abraham said he expects the school system will have no option but to call school off for Monday, as there will be no teachers or school employees in the buildings.

“It’s sad all around,” he said. “I’m very disheartened, and it’s a shame for the students. I support the teachers, and I think I understand the their concerns. There are some issues that need to be worked out with PEIA. But I don’t know if this is helping our kids.”

When contacted Saturday, Ohio County board member Christine Carder said she had “no comment at this time.”

Other board members — Sarah Koegler, Tim Birch and Shane Mallett — did not return messages seeking comment Friday or Saturday.

In Marshall County, a decision about school on Monday also should come today, according to spokesman Tony Wood.

Representatives of other Northern Panhandle school systems contacted Saturday did not return messages.