What are the responsibilities and job description for the Bus Driver II - Cover Driver - Colorado Springs School District 11 position at Colorado Springs School District?
Position: Educational Support Professional: Bus Driver II - Cover Driver
Department/School: Transportation
Reports To: Lead III (Transportation)
FTE: 1.0
Days/Year: 197
Salary Grade: N19
Salary Schedule: This position is based on the 2025-2026 ESP Salary Schedule, School Based Positions (Group C)
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
Why You Will Love Working Here
Join a team dedicated to safely transporting students and supporting daily school operations across Colorado Springs School District 11. As a Cover Driver, you play a vital role in creating a safe, positive, and consistent experience for students each day. This position offers meaningful work, a supportive team environment, and the opportunity to make a direct impact on student success while working in a role that values safety, reliability, and service.
Position Summary
The Cover Driver is responsible for the safe, timely, and efficient transportation of students and authorized passengers while supporting district-wide transportation operations by covering routes, trips, and assignments as needed.
This position is characterized by a high level of flexibility and responsiveness, with daily assignments that may vary based on operational needs. The Cover Driver must be able to quickly learn and navigate new routes, adapt to changing schedules, and support a variety of schools and student populations.
The role requires adherence to all federal, state, and District regulations, along with a strong focus on student safety, behavior management, and effective communication. The Cover Driver operates district vehicles, performs required inspections, maintains records, and supports students with varying needs, including those requiring specialized transportation assistance.
This position works both independently and collaboratively with dispatch, route schedulers, school staff, and leadership to ensure efficient and responsive transportation services across the District.
Essential Job Functions
- Safely operate district transportation vehicles for the purpose of transporting students and authorized passengers
- Perform pre- and post-trip inspections in compliance with U.S. Department of Transportation, Colorado Department of Education, and District requirements
- Follow assigned routes and schedules or cover routes and assignments as directed
- Maintain flexibility to adapt to route changes, assignments, and operational needs
- Maintain student safety and manage student behavior in accordance with District expectations
- Provide clear instructions and guidance to students to ensure a safe and orderly environment
- Perform all emergency procedures, including evacuations and response to medical situations
- Assist students with boarding and exiting the bus, including operation of wheelchair lifts and securing specialized equipment
- Perform responsibilities of a bus assistant when needed
- Communicate effectively with dispatch using two-way radio
- Complete required documentation including logs, reports, and records
- Accurately record time worked
- Fuel, clean, and maintain assigned vehicles
- Utilize routing systems and navigation tools
- Collaborate with staff and leadership
- Perform all other duties as assigned
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of:
- Applicable laws, regulations, and policies governing school transportation
- Student safety practices and behavior management techniques
- Basic vehicle inspection and operational procedures
Skill in:
- Safely operating district transportation vehicles
- Managing routes, time, and schedules effectively
- Navigating using maps, routing systems, and geographic knowledge
Ability to:
- Perform pre- and post-trip inspections independently
- Maintain a safe and orderly environment for students
- Follow written and verbal directions, including route assignments and maps
- Adapt to changing assignments and operational needs
- Work independently and as part of a team
- Communicate clearly and professionally with students, staff, and supervisors
- Demonstrate dependability, flexibility, and sound judgment
Qualifications
- Required: High School Diploma or GED
- Required: Minimum age of 21 years
- Required: Valid Colorado Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with “S” endorsement
- Required: Pass the Colorado Department of Education School Bus Operator’s Test (written and skills)
- Required: Meet District insurability requirements
- Required: Current First Aid and CPR certification (or ability to obtain within 90 days of hire)
- Preferred: Previous bus driving experience
Working Conditions & Physical Demands
Work is performed in both indoor and outdoor environments, including school buses, transportation lots, and school or activity locations. Employees are exposed to varying weather conditions including heat, cold, snow, and wet or slippery surfaces.
Essential functions include operating a district vehicle and performing physical tasks with or without reasonable accommodation. The role requires sitting for extended periods while driving, as well as standing, walking, bending, kneeling, crouching, and reaching.
Physical requirements may include lifting up to 60 pounds occasionally (floor to shoulder), pushing, pulling, or carrying up to 50 pounds, and lifting up to 20 pounds overhead. The position requires assisting students with mobility needs, including operating lifts and securing wheelchairs.
The role requires effective communication and the ability to receive and process information through vision, hearing, or other assisted means. Employees must be able to respond to emergency situations and detect environmental cues related to safety.
Work may include early morning and afternoon shifts and may vary based on route or operational needs. Duties may be performed with or without reasonable accommodation. Employees must pass the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) medical examination and are subject to DOT-approved substance abuse testing.
Join Our Team!
Join Colorado Springs School District 11 as a Bus Driver and play a critical role in supporting student success each day. Your commitment to safety, reliability, and service ensures that students arrive ready to learn and return home safely. Become part of a team that values collaboration, professionalism, and making a meaningful difference in the community.
Employees in this category will also receive the following for the 2025-2026 school year:
- Non-Recurring Pay: 8% of base salary in Non-Recurring Pay (distributed as 4% on November paycheck and 4 % on May paycheck).
Base Salary Setting: Employment, assignment and salary placement, is in accordance with job description requirements. A work history is required to demonstrate job title, job duties and time worked in the position. Grade placement for ESP positions is determined by the Salary Schedule by Job Title resource.Reference the linked How Your Compensation Is Determined for more details.
Salary Setting (New Hires): Any newly-employed Education Support Professional will be placed on the twenty-five (25) step system. Each step represents two years of experience, based upon equivalent experience. The maximum number of years of experience granted is 19-20 years, which is equivalent to placement on step ten (10). Steps are determined by experience listed on the application and resume.
Salary Setting (Rehires): Returning employees who have previously resigned or separated from the District will be rehired at the same step they were on at the time of resignation/separation plus any new experience gained in the same job, provided step increases were approved by the Board during the years in question.
Employees with experience in the District who have left the District and then returned to the same position shall be hired at the same pay grade (refers to the ESP placement on salary schedule by job title) and step at time of resignation. Additional relevant experience gained after resignation may be evaluated from the employee’s application and updated resume.
See Employee Handbook (located on the D11 website) for information on salary setting for rehires (after retirement), promotions and lateral transfers.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
School District 11 is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in relation to disability, need for special education services (whether actual or perceived), race, creed, color, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, religion, ancestry, age, genetic information, or protected activity in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Any harassment/discrimination of students and/or staff, based on the aforementioned protected areas, will not be tolerated and must be brought to the immediate attention of the school principal, D11 administrator/supervisor or D11 nondiscrimination compliance/grievance coordinator.
NONDISCRIMINATION COMPLIANCE COORDINATOR, the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs and Ombudservices, has been designated to coordinate compliance with: Equal Pay Act of 1963, Civil Rights Act of 1964, as Amended, Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, Title IX – Education Amendments Act of 1972, Section 504 of Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978, and Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. For additional information, please contact the District 11 Office of Equal Opportunity Programs & Ombudservices at 1115 North El Paso Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80903-2599, Phone: 719-520-2288, FAX: 719-520-2442
The following Board policies address nondiscrimination in District 11: AC, AC-R, GBA, GBAA, JBB, JBB-R
Salary : $22 - $26