WAIKOLOA, Hawaii -- The earthquake caused widespread damage to a number of schools on the Big Island, and that has kept many campuses closed to students.

Classes at Waikoloa Elementary School are expected to be canceled for longer than any other Hawaii public school. There is earthquake damage to every classroom and no place to move students to resume classes.

"The damage has been very serious. We are worried about the kids, worried about their safety," Waikoloa Elementary School Principal Kris Kosa-Correia said.

Ceiling tiles are broken and electrical fixtures and walls are cracked. You can see clocks stopped at the moment of the earthquake in each classroom.

Teachers, staff and parents are pitching in to clean up.

"We hope we can get the kids back in school safely as soon as possible," parent Patricia Andrade said.

State and private engineers on Tuesday estimated damage to the school at $2 million.

"It is not so much that the total amount of money will be that great, but the expanse of the work that has to be done so they will be closed for a bit more yet," West Hawaii Superintendent Art Souza said.

The Department of Education has no provision to add on extra days for students to make up missed work, but if Waikoloa Elementary School has to remain closed for more than a week, officials are considering plans such as using spring vacation days to make up lost days.

Officials said they hope a church across the street can be used to resume some of the classes soon.

While the cleanup continues, the principal said he hopes parents are helping with schoolwork at home.

"We have a lot of great families here so hopefully a lot of kids are reading. Whenever we take a (school) break, I always say, 'That's what your homework is over the break: reading,'" Kosa-Correia said.

Since the school year can't be made longer, students are just going to have to work harder when they return, Kosa-Correia said.

Besides Waikoloa, two other schools remain closed on the Big Island. They are Honokaa Elementary School and Waimea Elementary School, but Waimea is mainly closed for parent-teacher meetings through Thursday.