CHARLESTON, W.Va. — When KVC Health Systems officially takes over the WVU Tech campus in Montgomery on Saturday, officials will spend “at least” six months repairing and improving facilities for up to 500 students.
The West Virginia University Board of Governors approved a lease-purchase agreement in April for the nonprofit to utilize the campus as a college for youth emerging from foster care.
WVU Tech is moving its operations to its Beckley campus this summer.
Tommy Bailey, the director of strategic initiatives for KVC Health Systems, said at a Charleston fundraiser Wednesday the group will use two-thirds of the campus. Those buildings are in Fayette County
“My understanding is that BridgeValley (Community and Technical College) is taking the other side of campus in Kanawha County that was the engineering school,” he said.
KVC Health will lease the athletic center to the YMCA. According to Bailey, the YMCA wants to begin using that building “immediately.”
Bailey said there is not a timeline for when students will be on campus, adding KVC Health Systems wants to make sure everything is ready.
“We’ll spend the next six months at least building that school, repairing a few things that need repair and preparing for that first student,” he noted.
KVC Health Systems agreed to a 25-year lease, with the option to purchase the campus for $8.3 million before June 30, 2020.