By By JAMES COLLINS / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- An excited and optimistic Gary Rider officially began his job as superintendent of Brandywine Public Schools on Thursday.
With a few months before school is back in session, Rider said he will spend his summer gathering information and getting to know people in the district.
In all of his previous visits to the district, Rider has been impressed with the encouragement and friendliness that he has received from the community.
His wife, Sandy, and his daughters Kristy, 24, and Erin, 20, were also impressed with the friendliness that they were met with during their visit to the community last month.
Last week, Rider came down to the district and spent a day with interim superintendent Gary Campbell, who helped him to hit the ground running.
One of the big things happening in the district this summer is the extensive construction projects at each of the schools.
Rider, who plans to visit the schools today, said construction has gotten off to a very good start.
He acknowledged the construction projects will be a short term inconvenience to the district, but a long term improvement.
His long term vision for Brandywine Public Schools is to become a successful model for other districts to follow.
He sees the current direction of Brandywine as a positive one and looks forward to continued improvements.
Rider realizes the resurgence of Brandywine is something that is going to take a community wide effort.
After six years as principal of Kenowa Hills High School in Grand Rapids, Rider finished an emotional last day at the school on Wednesday.
He and his family recently put their Grand Rapids home up for sale and are now searching for a home in the area.