Regular and Substitute Bus Driver

Job Title: Bus Driver, Substitute Bus Driver

Reports To: Transportation Supervisor

Job Summary

Transport students safely to and from various school sites, ensuring their well-being throughout the journey. Reporting directly to the Transportation Supervisor, this role is responsible for the safety of all passengers, including special education students, while operating the assigned vehicle. Additionally, the driver must always maintain the vehicle in safe operating condition. Assignments may include driving wheelchair-accessible or ambulatory vehicles.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The essential duties of this position include the following: Employees in this position perform some or all of the following tasks.

• Follows and maintains knowledge of all district policy(ies) and procedures.
• Works directly with students with a variety of special needs.
• Drives a school bus safely in accordance with and adhering to set time schedules; transporting students to and from their homes, a variety of school sites, and on field trips as assigned.
• Assists students with managing behaviors.
• Establish and maintain proper conduct and safety of passengers on school bus.
• Implements Individual Education Plan (IEP) modifications. This includes, Monitors students with special health problems while in bus; receiving written or oral instructions, being aware and alert to any signs of difficulty following prescribed instructions and procedures, administering first aid, and calling for emergency assistance.
• Maintains records as requested by the administration.
• Maintains order and proper discipline of passengers; resolving disputes, documents and reports severe disciplinary cases.
• Operates a two way radio.
• Exercise good judgment and extreme caution while operating a school bus.
• Remain calm in an emergency situation
• Recognize mechanical safety hazards in bus.
• Learn to designate order of pickup and drop off, modify bus routes, and prepare related reports.
• Oversees the loading and unloading of students, releasing students to authorized individual; assures that safety belts are fastened.
• May operate a special lift / ramp bus; loads and unloads students in wheelchairs on and off bus; inspecting wheelchair for operational safety and permitting only properly functioning wheelchairs to load; operates ramp, assuring seatbelts are fastened, positioning the wheelchairs in bus, and securing the wheelchair.
• Conducts established safety and operational inspection of assigned vehicle daily.
• Assures maintenance of bus in safe and clean operating condition; reporting needed mechanical repairs, installing special safety belts, sweeping interior of the bus and washing windows as needed daily during pre-trip, services the bus with fuel and oil, follows established security procedures.
• Assists in establishing timely drop off and pickup of assigned students; conferring with parents, supervisors, schedulers, and other staff regarding transportation needs, plotting route on map, documenting route, and adjusting route for new and/or dropped students.
• Transports and delivers medication, personal belongings, messages and memos between parents and school staff, collects and returns students’ personal property when entering and disembarking.
• Maintains a variety of records and reports including but not limited to mileage, routing, maintenance, and time.
• Attends meetings, programs, and in-service training as assigned.
• Responds to emergency situation (injured students, fights, etc.) for the purpose of resolving immediate safety concerns.
• Observe all traffic laws and safety regulations for school buses.
• Maintains current required licenses and certificates.
• Notifies appropriate individuals of any delays in scheduled route.
• Assists with other routes when breakdown or other unusual circumstances occur as assigned.
• Assists in bus loading and unloading.
• Assists students with managing behaviors and resolving conflicts.
• May be assigned to general maintenance and cleanup activities in the transportation department.
• Evaluates student injuries, determines course of action, performs minor first aid and completes required paperwork in compliance with District policy(ies).
• Reports safety, sanitary, and fire hazards immediately to supervisor.
• Report all accidents, vehicle damage and student injuries as they occur.
• Read and interpret a map.
• Works on stand-by time when required.
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with those contacted in the performance of duties.
• Complies with applicable District, state, local and federal laws, rules, and regulations.
• Professionally represents the school and the District in interactions with parents, community, staff and students.
• Attends work regularly and is punctual.
• Driver’s may be assigned to ramp buses and must possess the physical stamina and stature to load, unload, and secure wheelchair students; endure exposure to inclement weather; operate electrical/manual lifts on ramp buses; and, know and follow proper safety requirements of equipment.
• Performs other related duties as assigned by the transportation supervisor.

Marginal Duties and Responsibilities

Marginal duties of this position include the following. Employees in this position perform some or all of the following tasks. Other duties may be assigned.

• Attend in-service trainings.
• Attend staff meetings.
• Reports issues to authorities as necessary, animal control, suspicious activity etc.

Supervisor Responsibilities

All school employees have some responsibility for supervising students and assisting in maintaining a safe environment.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Education and/or Experience: Associate’s degree (A.A.) or equivalent from two-year college or technical school or at least one year related experience and/or training or equivalent combination of education and experience is preferred. Must be highly qualified under the reauthorization of ESEA.
• Interpersonal Skills: Works well with others from diverse backgrounds. Focuses on solving conflict; maintaining confidentiality; listening to others without interrupting; keeping emotions under control; remaining open to others’ ideas and contributing to building a positive team spirit. Demonstrated ability to successfully work with young children.
• Language Skills: Ability to communicate fluently verbally and in writing in English. Ability to effectively present information and respond effectively to questions in one-on-one, small group situations to students and other school staff. Ability to verbally respond to common inquiries from students. Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, IEPs, operating and maintenance instructions, procedure manuals and governmental regulations. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Mathematical Skills: Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals. Ability to calculate rate, ratio, figures, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.
• Reasoning Ability: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, schedule or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
• Computer Skills: General knowledge of computer usage and ability to use: email, internet and word processing software, spreadsheets, Google Docs, Microsoft Office, and Skyward are preferred. Ability to type accurately and proficiently.
• Other Skills and Abilities: Ability to appropriately communicate with students, teachers, parents and members of the community. Ability to exercise good judgement and work in an environment with constant interruptions. Shall not have a record in the past ten (10) years of a DUI, Domestic Violence, Gross Misdemeanor, or Felony convictions. Must be able to pass DOT mandated physical exam, pass pre-duty and randomly administered drug and alcohol tests, and pass standards of fitness as prescribed by law annually. Must be twenty-one (21) years old. Must have an acceptable driving record.
• Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: Possess a valid and appropriate Washington Driver’s License with appropriate endorsements. Possess a valid First Aide and CPR card.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly involved in continual sitting, reaching, and repetitive hand/arm movements. The employee is frequently required to walk; stand; sit; use hands for fine manipulation, handle or free and reach with hands and arms using a keyboard and video display terminal. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel or crouch. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally up to 100 pounds. The employee may occasionally climb stairs or ladders. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, ability to adjust focus and peripheral vision. The employee is also required to work both indoors and outdoors.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics describes here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may by made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The work environment combines exposure to blood, bodiyly fluids, and tissure. Occassional operation of a vehicle under inclement weather conditions. Also, occasional interaction with unruly people. Also, a standard office setting including standard office equipment. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate, but occasionally high depending upon student population and activities. The employee may be exposed to bloodborne pathogens.

Other

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Note: This is not necessarily an exhaustive or all-inclusive list of responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts, functions or working conditions associated with the job. This job description is not a contract of employment or a promise or guarantee of any specific terms or conditions of employment. The school district may add to, modify or delete any aspect of this job (or the position itself) at any time as it deems advisable. The district may not violate any federal, state, or local law, regulation, or contract in its addition to, modification of, or deletion of this job description or the position itself.