By AARON MUELLER
Niles Daily Star

Richard Weigel doesn’t have an agenda for when he takes over as the new superintendent of Niles Community Schools in April – yet.

The current assistant superintendent at Ypsilanti Public Schools said his goal for the first 100 days in Niles is simple – to listen.

“Listen, listen, listen,” he said in a phone interview Wednesday. “Build relationships and listen some more. I need to know the community and learn about what I need to do and where I need to go.”

Weigel plans to form a “collaborative team” of administrators, board members, teachers and community members to help him determine the needs of the district.

“They will help me determine my goals,” he said. “Before I start promoting my ideas, I need to listen and determine the needs.”

Weigel knows that the budget is the biggest challenge he will face when he takes over for Doug Law, who retires at the end of the academic year.

“I’m working closely with Doug Law already to find out where he’s been and what he’s doing,” he said.

Weigel plans to be in Niles meeting with Law next week to go over the budget so he can hit the ground running next month.

He also said he’s in the process of selling his home in Ypsilanti and looking for a place to stay in Niles. He said living in the community is important to him.

“Niles is a wonderful community,” he said. “It’s a warm and inviting place to be.”

This week Weigel accepted a three-year contract with a salary of $125,000 and a start date of April 19. Law’s current salary is $127,000.