Fort Lewis Elementary School in Roanoke County will be closed today for roof repairs.

A structural engineer who inspected the roof after a section caved in in December identified potentially deficient roof trusses in seven other spots. Weather permitting, those trusses are scheduled to be repaired beginning today and possibly continuing through the weekend.

School officials opted to cancel today's classes because the construction will be loud and possibly interrupt instruction, said county schools spokesman Chuck Lionberger.

A section of the school cafeteria's roof caved in the evening of Dec. 21 under the weight of heavy snow. No one was in the building at the time and school was closed for winter break. Students returned to school after the break as scheduled, but the cafeteria and gymnasium are closed until repairs are complete.

School officials said the school is scheduled to reopen for classes Tuesday. Roanoke County students are out of school Monday for parent teacher conferences and even in the case of inclement weather, Superintendent Lorraine Lange said she does not anticipate the repairs will take four days.

School officials said the reconstruction of the cafeteria roof should be completed by the end of February, which will enable students and staff to resume normal activities. Currently cafeteria staff prepare meals at a nearby school and shuttle the food to the classrooms of Fort Lewis.

Repairs from the snow damage -- including the roof reconstruction, cleanup, replacing equipment and furniture -- will cost about $800,000. An insurance claim was filed, and Lange said the division's responsibility is the $10,000 deductible. The additional repairs will not be covered by the claim.

"We need to pay since insurance won't cover it, but it is worth it if it ensures the safety of our students. We are trying to be proactive," Lange said.

The affected roof is part of a 1996 building addition.