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PABLO- Salish Kootenai College has solved their swimming pool ground water problem, but now they're beginning their battle with mold across campus.

Water has been rerouted to a nearby pond and the basement of the IT Building has been dried out. Crews have also poured concrete where the water was about a foot deep and cracks will be sealed to prevent water from seeping in again.

The biggest problem now for the school is to get rid of mold that's been growing in the basements and crawl spaces of student housing and buildings.

School employees will begin tackling the mold in student housing while there are no classes over Christmas Break and school officials say two of the houses will have to be raised up because engineers say they're too low in the ground.

Montana Senator Jon Tester visited the school last weekend to see the ground water damage for himself and to also talk to the school about how to help get money to pay for the damage done on campus.

It's cost SKC about $77,000 to get rid of mold in four buildings and staff members think it will cost around $300,000 to do major remodeling and construction to other buildings affected by mold.

Tester told school staff he will begin to research different agencies that could give money to the college. One of the ideas that came up to ask the Bureau of Indian Affairs to help fund some of the work.

Contact Katy Harris