FORT TOTTEN, N.D. -- The Fort Totten School District received more than $3.6 million in emergency funds to build a new education facility, members of North Dakota’s congressional delegation announced Monday.

“Today’s award is part of our ongoing efforts to give Native American youth access to greater opportunity in life through education and skills training,” according to a statement from the office Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D.

Students and faculty had to evacuate their old facility in 2013-14 because of a water line break that caused mold and dust levels three times higher than what is considered healthy, according to a news release and district Superintendent Jeff Olson. Programs are temporarily being held at Tate Topa Tribal School and students will remain there until the new facility is built, Olson said.

Federal funds awarded through the U.S. Department of Education Impact Aid Program will restore classrooms, labs, administrative areas and other areas lost. The new facility, which will hold the district's alternative high school program and career and technical education programs, will accommodate six teachers and 55 to 75 students in 9,560 square feet of new space.

“This will be good news for us,” said Olson. “We can actually expand that alternative program.”

Olson said he’s uncertain when construction will begin.

The tribal headquarters of the Spirit Lake Nation are located in Fort Totten, about 100 miles west of Grand Forks.

"Native American youth often have the cards stacked against them from a young age, and it's our trust and treaty responsibility to make sure we provide the support and resources they need to succeed," Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., said in news release.