Earthquake damage to the 29 public schools that were affected could actually fall below an initial estimate of $43.5 million, according to state Comptroller Russ Saito.

But Saito, who said structural engineers are now completing a second and far more detailed tally of damage to the schools, would not say how much the damage costs could fall.

"The second pass is lower than the $43 million," said Saito. "But it could change."

Next week contractors will accompany the engineers in a further scrutiny of school buildings, and contracts will be signed as soon as possible for repair work, said Saito. Because of the emergency nature of the work, the contracts do not need to go to bid, he said.

The two most heavily damaged schools are Kohala Elementary, with an estimated $15 million in damage, and Kohala High, with an estimated $8 million in damage.

But both schools are open, even though some classrooms have been shut down and classes moved.

For instance, Kohala Elementary has closed a two-story building whose elevator shaft had detached from the building, and relocated classes around the campus. One class has been meeting outside on a lawn, according to school secretary Stella Steinhoff.

In the meantime, the Department of Education expects to open on Monday the last two remaining Big Island schools closed by earthquake damage, but the principal of one of them, Waikoloa Elementary, says it will take a superhuman weekend effort to make that happen at her school.

All eight school custodians from the Hilo area, along with another five in the Waikoloa area, will be working overtime through the weekend to clean up another 10 classrooms to get the school ready to open, said Waikoloa Elementary Principal Kristine Kosa-Correia.

"We have about 12 classrooms ready, and we're about halfway there," said Kosa-Correia, who said damage tallies at her school alone have hit $2 million.

"We're mostly cutting down the metal hanging down and taking out ceiling tiles and anything dangling below the plane of the ceiling. And adding additional wiring," said Kosa-Correia.

"Groups from FEMA and Department of Accounting and General Services came through, along with DOE facilities engineers from Honolulu, and Department of Health personnel who were checking air quality."

The second Big Island school that's been closed all week — Honoka'a Elementary — will be open for sure, said DOE spokesman Greg Knudsen.

The cleanup has been faster, and the damage less, than at Waikoloa. Repairs there are estimated at $500,000.

"The contractors were here from early this morning, and they have repaired the damage, and the classrooms are safe for entry," said Honoka'a Principal Katherine Tolentino yesterday.

Tolentino said her school has open-beam ceilings, and the concern was for the cement-block walls that support the open beams.

"The contractor has shored those up by putting in additional support beams," she said.

"And we did have one portable that had a post that was floating, and they came in and repaired that and poured new cement."

Tolentino said she knows parents have had to make accommodations — including some who have had to take time off work — to care for their children this past week.

"I know the parents are anxious to have them back in school," she said.

Over the week, the list of schools suffering damage has increased as reports are filed, with those hardest hit on the Big Island, even though a few on Maui and O'ahu also saw damage.

"A few of the Maui schools appear to have cracks that need to be looked at or repaired," said DOE spokesman Knudsen.

"Several schools with minor damage have notations that no structural evaluation is really needed, although 'Aikahi Elementary (on O'ahu) says a portable classroom shifted off its foundation."

Back at Waikoloa Elementary, nine classrooms will still remain closed, including the entire second floor of one of the school's two-story buildings, and four classes will move to the Waikoloa Community Church across the street. They'll meet in the church fellowship hall through the coming week.

"We're just glad we're intact so they can use our facility," said church pastor Al Harlow, who notes that a few community groups have voluntarily given up their class times in the church hall to accommodate the schoolchildren.

"We're all a part of the community here," said Harlow. "Everybody's got to pull together."

Reach Beverly Creamer at bcreamer@honoluluadvertiser.com.