Curtis L. Jones Jr., the Bibb County school system’s new superintendent, will take an oath of office Thursday morning.

Probate Court Judge Sarah Harris is scheduled to administer the oath at 11:30 a.m. in her office at the Bibb County Courthouse.

Members of the Bibb County school board are scheduled to attend.

Jones’ first day on the job is set for Monday. He will make a base salary of $210,000 plus benefits, which includes an $800-a-month travel allowance, according to his contract.

Jones was named the sole finalist for the job about seven weeks ago. Since then, he and the board negotiated the contract as Jones prepared to move from the same position he has held with the Griffin-Spalding County school system.

The 59-year-old has been superintendent in Griffin since 2009, working his way up the ranks there after 20 years in the Army.

Jones was one of four finalists for Georgia’s Superintendent of the Year, named in December. He also is president-elect of the Georgia School Superintendents Association.

Bibb County has had a series of interim superintendents since the school board bought out Romain Dallemand’s contract after just two years on the job. Interim Superintendent Steve Smith retired in December after filling in for 19 months, and Kelley Castlin-Gacutan was named to the interim post.

Jones graduated from Griffin High School in 1973, then attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He was an officer in the Army from 1977 to 1997, retiring as a colonel.

He returned to Griffin High in 1997, serving as the school’s JROTC instructor until 2001. He was principal of the high school from 2001-2005, then was assistant superintendent for administrative services until his unanimous selection as superintendent.

Jones has a master’s degree in business administration from Albany State College, a specialist degree in educational leadership from Lincoln Memorial University and a doctorate in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University. He has completed the Army’s Command and General Staff School and previously held a certified financial planner designation.

His wife, the former Evelyn Kendall, is the principal at Anne Street Elementary School in Griffin. They have three children.