Bus Driver

Job Summary

Transports students to and from school, following a preplanned route according to a definite time schedule; regulates heating equipment and ventilation of bus for comfort of passengers; drives bus carefully and in compliance with traffic regulations; assumes responsibility for the safety of school children in loading, unloading and transporting them to and from school. Instructs children in safety precautions and practices.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of operation of a school bus; California Vehicle Code; regulations and laws pertaining to pupil transportation in California; first aid practices.
• Ability to act calmly and sensibly in stressful situations; react appropriately in emergencies; understand and carry out oral and written instructions; maintain cooperative relations; use good judgment.
• Appropriate State licenses and certificates to operate all school buses; current DL-51 Medical Certificate.
• Ability to read and interpret a map; ability to learn to operate a two-way radio using required codes
• Read and write in English at a level sufficient to successfully perform required duties.

Desirable

• Experience in pupil transportation preferred.
• Ability to operate all school bus-related equipment.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish); passage of required District Spanish exam.

Essential Functions

• Drives a school bus safely in accordance with time schedules; transporting students to and from their homes, a variety of school sites, and on school related trips.
• Operates a two way radio.
• Oversees the loading and unloading of students at appropriate bus stop.
• Maintains order and proper district and department policies regarding student discipline; resolving disputes, documents and reports severe disciplinary cases.
• Maintains current required licenses and certificates.
• Notifies appropriate individuals of any delays in scheduled route.
• Absorbs and reports needed mechanical repairs, sweeps interior of the bus daily; wash windows as needed per Vehicle Code; services the bus with gas and water, follows established security procedures.
• Confers with parents, supervisors, schedulers, and other staff regarding transportation needs, plots route on map, documents route, and adjusts route for new and/or dropped students.
• Maintains a variety of records and reports including but not limited to daily check-out report, mileage, routing, maintenance, and time schedules.
• Attends meetings, programs, and in-service training as assigned.
• Performs bus evacuation for assigned route each school year.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Physical Requirements

• Sit for extended periods of time.
• Ascend and descend steps.
• Stand and/or walk.
• See and read printed matter with or without vision aids.
• Hear and understand speech at normal levels.
• Speak so that others may understand at normal levels.
• Lift and/or carry up to 40 pounds to waist height on a regular basis.
• In an emergency, must be able to perform evacuation of students from bus.
• Able to operate a special ramp bus; load and unload students in wheelchairs on and off bus, as required.
• Complies with District, State and/or Federal guidelines for drug and alcohol testing of school bus drivers.

Mental Requirements

• Able to meet deadlines in terms of work assignment schedules.

Social Requirements

• Interact daily in person with other members of the school district, school staff, parents, and students, and possess comfortable interpersonal skills and cooperative attitudes.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

• Consistent attendance is required.
• Convey an understanding, patient attitude toward other students, staff, and parents.

Supervision

Under the general supervision of the Transportation Coordinator.