Video: Roof collapse keeps Olympia school closed

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OLYMPIA, Wash. - Hundreds of students in Olympia just found out they now have an extra week off school.

A big chunk of Capital High School's roof collapsed on Christmas Day from the weight of heavy snow, and the damage is more extensive than first thought.

Classes at Capital High School in Olympia won't resume until Monday, Jan. 12, due to the damage. Assistant Superintendent Jim Crawford says all other schools in the Olympia School District will reopen this coming Monday.

The obvious damage at Capital High School was easy to see; a section of roof about the size of a tennis court had caved in. The commons, hallways, the library and even classrooms had water damage.

But engineers also discovered a damaged natural gas line. Not only does it have to be repaired, it also has to be relocated - all because of snow. As much as two feet of it had piled up on Capital High's roof.

"We don't really have a way of getting people up on the roof and we don't want people up on the roof moving heavy snow," Olympia School District spokesperson Peter Rex said. "It's just a bad situation, a lot of snow, it's melting and it's a flat roof."

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Heavy snow caused Capital High School's roof to collapse last month.

Repair work has been ongoing. The utility work is also underway, but will also have to be inspected and approved by the city of Olympia.

This week off isn't free. Students and parents already know these days will have to be made up.

The district has not yet decided how they will do that. Options include shaving some days off spring break or an extra week of school at the end of the year.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.