Definition

The employee will perform work as a bus driver, safely transporting students from home to school to home, on field trips, and performing a variety of clerical duties associated with Transportation operations. 

Duties and Responsibilities

• Safely transports students to and from home and on field trips.
• Performs student counts and gathers information concerning students and routes as required by the School and Transportation Department.
• Obeys all traffic laws.
• Observes all safety regulations for school buses.
• Maintains student discipline, as outlined in Bus Driver Handbook.
• Reports disciplinary matters to the proper authority.
• Keeps assigned bus clean.
• Maintains assigned schedule.
• Checks bus prior to operation for mechanical problems/concerns.
• Notifies the proper authority in case of mechanical failure or schedule delay/lateness.
• Reports all accidents, driving hazards, and other related incidents.
• Adheres to Bus Driver Agreement.
• Must follow Bus Driver’s Handbook.
• Must comply with all NC rules and regulations governing the safe operation of a school bus/ passenger vehicle.
• Must comply with all Gaston County Schools’ rules and regulations governing the safe operation of a school bus. 
• Must inspect the bus for occupants at the conclusion of each run.
• Expected to serve as a Bus Monitor post-accident.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• General knowledge of routine maintenance requirements of buses.
• Must possess the ability to work independently with minimum supervision once the job and route are learned.
• Ability to follow written and oral instructions.
• Must have good people skills and the ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with school officials, administrators, supervisors, school employees, parents, and students.
• Ability to read, write and maintain records.
• Ability to perform simple calculations.

Special Requirements for Bus Driver Position

• Must be at least 18 years of age with at least six (6) months of driving experience with a valid operator’s license.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.
• Must have or be willing to obtain the required commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with “P” and “S” endorsements.
• Must have no STOP entry appearing on the driving record.
• Must successfully complete the classroom and road training course, if not licensed.
• Must possess the ability to work independently with minimum supervision once the job and route are learned.
• Willing to clean the bus after students/passengers daily.
• Must have and maintain a good driving record.
• Must be safety conscious.

Duties and Responsibilities – School Bus Monitor (post-accident)

• Assists students in boarding and leaving the bus safely.
• Makes sure students are in their seats when the bus is in motion.
• Assists in any medical or behavioral situation to ensure students are safely transported to and from school.
• Maintains discipline when students are on the bus.
• Safely monitors students to and from home and on field trips.
• Performs student counts and gathers information concerning students and routes as required by the School and Transportation Department.
• Learns and assists with bus routes.
• Follows and enforces all local, state, and federal laws as they apply to buses, including but not limited to accidents.

Physical Requirements 

• Must be physically able to operate a school bus. 
• Able to climb steps multiple times daily.
• Must be able to quickly decelerate the bus and firmly apply the brake in an emergency situation.
• Must be able to turn the steering wheel of the vehicle rapidly in an emergency situation. 
• Must be able to begin in a seated position with seat belt fastened, parking brake released, and engine running, secure the bus (parking brake set, key removed), rise from the seat, proceed to the rearmost emergency exit, and be in a position to assist passengers in exiting the bus within 20 seconds. 
• Must be able to exert up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up-to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up-to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are for Medium Work.

This Position Reports Directly to: Principal/Administrator

Classification: Non-Exempt

Salary: $16.06 per hour, the experience will alter the rate

Disclaimer

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to perform this job.

If offered a position, the prospective employee must pass a required health exam, criminal records check, and drug test. As a safety-sensitive position, the employee will be subject to random drug testing.