Swanson - Mary Knoll School Proposal - Overview

Local developer Vincent "VK" Kuttemperoor made an offer in August, 2003 to build a new elementary school on vacant land already owned by the Elmbrook School District in exchange for taking ownership of Swanson Elementary School located on Calhoun Road.

The proposal was very complex and became hugely controversial due to opposition from the neighbors to the Swanson School. The neighbors have a long list of objections and unanswered questions regarding the proposal and have been strongly opposing it.

Ald. Berg took no official position as a city official on the proposal because it has not come before the Common Council or any other city body. The only city involvement were consultations between Administrator Matt Gibson and Mayor Jeff Speaker regarding what role the city should play.

The school district Meeting of the Electorate was held on Monday, November 15, 2004. After about two hours of presentations and public comment, the vote was taken. The unofficial tally was:

636 - Yes - Authorize Swap

2,587 - No - Keep Swanson

Mr. Kuttemperoor withdrew his offer. He will continue his plans to develop the adjacent property.

Related Web Sites

The school district web site is at the center of this issue and is taxpayer supported, so listing it here is an obvious move. The V.K. Development site is privately owned, but also at the center of the controversy, so balance dictates its use. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel web site is also privately owned but is a well known source of public information, even though its actual content is copyrighted.

Note that Ald. Berg has not made any statement of support or opposition to the contents of either site, but lists them only so that you may do your own research and draw your own conclusions.. In fact, the V.K. Development site has never had information regarding the Swanson proposal.

School District of Elmbrook

V.K. Development Corporation

News Stories

MJS - Feb 22, 2005 - Meeting complaint cleared, Elmbrook's Swanson meetings didn't violate law, AG's office rules

MJS - Nov 20, 2004 - Laurel Walker - Public comment belongs on the agenda

MJS - Nov 17, 2004 - Showpiece urged near Swanson

This article includes this quote from Barb Roncke of the CCC:

"I really want to challenge VK to come up with something truly special for that area," Roncke said. "I think that VK has the intelligence, the skill and the resources to captivate that area and really make it a centerpiece, a showpiece. We need something that we can rally around and say isn't this wonderful. . . . a school, the Ruby homestead and barn and whatever else he can think of that is really unique."

Note that this statement is not "Brookfield in the deep freeze", meaning total opposition to any development. Rather it encourages innovative development on private property at the developer's expense. Would innovation allow a Planned Development District (PDD), a zoning tool specifically designed to allow non-traditional development? You may also recall that Mrs. Roncke supported TIF #3 and its accompanying development in the Brookfield Mall area.

MJS - Nov 16, 2004 - Voters Reject Swanson Sale, More than 3,000 turn out, developer says he'll give up quest to buy school

MJS - Nov 12, 2004 - Some fear deal undervalues school Developer wants to buy Swanson Elementary in Brookfield, but critics insist offer is not enough

MJS - Nov 12, 2004 - Editorial - Let School Deal Happen

MJS - Nov 10, 2004 - New school for old school swap offer creates debate

MJS - Nov 9, 2004 - Corporate campus planned, Developer seeking school is buying Ruby land

MJS - Nov 8, 2004 - Easement in memo on proposed sale of Swanson school raises questions Park idea would require OK of mayor, council

MJS - Nov 8, 2004 - Laurel Walker - So far, these deals deserve penalty flag

MJS - Nov 1, 2004 - Possible school sale draws criticism, 500 pack meeting to protest, hear proposal on Swanson

MJS - Oct 28, 2004 - Laurel Walker - Gift horse's mouth is open, so take a look

MJS - Oct 27, 2004 - School sale opponents prepare for fight, Elmbrook board members divided on Swanson deal

MJS - Oct 26, 2004 - Developer gives up quest to name school after wife He agrees to donate $1 million in deal to buy Swanson Elementary

MJS - Oct 12, 2004 - School vote set for Nov. 15, Residents will decide on sale to developer

MJS - Sep 29, 2004 - Developer's school plan may foil park expansion Board wants new elementary next to Mary Knoll Park

MJS - Sep 27, 2004 - Citizens group urges delay of Swanson vote Study of potential problems at proposed site of school sought

MJS - Sep 20, 2004 - School sale might be put to vote, Brookfield park would be suitable site for replacement, study says

MJS - Aug 24, 2004 - Mary Knoll move a no-go, Tests show area doesn't have enough water

MJS - July 21, 2004 - Laurel Walker - Sometimes money's the name of the game

MJS - June 23, 2004 - Elmbrook has Swanson appraised, Mary Knoll Park will be studied as a potential school site, district says

MJS - June 10, 2004 - Editorial: Secrecy cuts out the public

MJS - June 2, 2004 - Elmbrook school swap proposal angers residents Developer wants to build school, trade for Swanson

MJS - Dec. 15, 2003 - School building would be donated, Kuttemperoor seeks to buy one, put up another

One interesting point is that the original Swanson offer was made in a closed session school board meeting in late August. Two days later a reporter phoned Ald. Berg, stated all the details of the offer and asked for comment. Ald. Berg declined comment since it was not a city issue. This story, almost four months later, is the first "official" public news story on the offer. This illustrates that the closed door sessions were anything but and that the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel only publishes verifiable stories, not off the record rumors.