Retired Napoleon Superintendent Robert Dubois was named interim superintendent of Jackson Public Schools Monday night. The Jackson Board of Education voted unanimously to enter into contract negotiations with DuBois, who is expected to start Jan. 4. DuBois was one of two finalists for the position, and was the apparent front-runner. His competition, former Jackson Superintendent Darwin Johnson, withdrew from consideration Monday.

Vice President Stephen Osmond, who chaired the search committee, said both Johnson and DuBois emerged as candidates who fit the profile of what the district was looking for. "We were looking for someone with experience as a superintendent and who had knowledge of our district," said Osmond. The committee also wanted a good communicator.

DuBois will serve as interim superintendent for the remainder of the school year. Meanwhile, the board will begin searching for a permanent replacement for Gregg Mowen, who quit in October to take an assistant superintendent's position in Grand Rapids. DuBois, who was principal at Jackson High School from 1985 to 1990, is a lifelong resident of Jackson. In 1990, he was hired as superintendent of Napoleon Community Schools, where he retired in 1997. Since his retirement, he has served as interim superintendent in Grass Lake and Dundee.

Also on Monday, the Jackson Board of Education voted to offer an early buyout to its support staff. The buyout would be open to all full-time bus drivers, maintenance staff, secretaries, and paraprofessionals. The buyout could save the district as much as $400,000 over the next 10 years by replacing high-salaried employees with new workers at or near the bottom of the pay scale. Under the plan, employees would receive $12,000 in equal monthly payments over the next 10 years, amounting to $100 a month. Jackson Schools also kicks in a one-time payment $3,354 toward first-year tax withholdings. The district will partner with Educators Preferred Corp., which specializes in early buyouts, EPC officials will handle all informational meetings, enrollment and private counseling.