School Bus Driver

BURKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

JOB DESCRIPTION

POSITION: School Bus Driver

QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum qualification age: 21 or older

Possess a valid B or A Class Commercial (CDL) Georgia Driving License with a "P" and "S" endorsement.

Must have a physical examination by a licensed doctor of medicine, 60 days prior to the date of employment (or beginning of school) in accordance with the approved examination (DE Form 0514) prescribed by the State Board of Education.

Must be of good moral character, appearance, and personality.

Must possess a positive attitude and willingness to work well with others.

Must have a minimum of two years driving experience.

Must pass a pre-employment drug and alcohol screening test and will be subject to random drug and alcohol testing for as long as employed as a full or part-time driver.

Must be mentally and emotionally stable which insures normal driving competency and efficiency.

Must have knowledge of first aid and complete CPR and Basic First Training.

No DUIs for the last 7 years

6 points or less in the last 5 years

Valid Social Security Card and/or Permanent Resident Card

Education:

High school diploma or GED certificate

Must be able to speak, read and write English

Skills Qualifications:

Ability to communicate in English both orally and in writing; strong interpersonal skills; ability to take directions; and ability to exhibit a positive attitude.

Primary Responsibilities:

Manage and safely transport students to and from school on a daily basis, provide safe transportation for different educational activities, manage student behavior and intervention while in loco parentis, and represent the school system in a professional manner. Clean and service the vehicle to include sweeping, washing, installation of fuel, oil, and coolant, etc., to the extent prescribed by the Burke County School System.

1. Supervise and manage students during all bus routes
a. Provide thorough bus instructions to ensure smooth operations.
b. Provide behavioral management techniques and corrective actions when appropriate.

2. Ensure safe loading and unloading of students
a. Use extreme concentration when transporting students during all routes.
b. Count each student from the stop onto the bus or from the bus until safely positioned at the bus stop while maintaining control of the students still on the bus.
c. Monitor surrounding traffic to ensure unsafe acts are not occurring.

3. Maintain student and equipment securement.

a. Ensure that each student is safely and appropriately seated within the seat compartment.
b. Ensure that all equipment including book bags, models, and musical instruments are secured within the seating compartment.

4. Responsible for continual safe driving when transporting students.

a. Operate the commercial motor vehicle in compliance with federal, state, and local laws to protect the student passengers, the general public, and the school system from harm.
b. Participate in 70 to 90 hours of initial training as well as 20 to 40 hours of professional development each year to maintain safe driving skills.
c. Ensure a passing status for annual qualification physical, demonstrate current proficiency by passing annual driving skills exam, and submit to random, unannounced drug and alcohol tests.

5. Oversee student behavior management.

a. Ensure no distractions exist during bus routes.
b. Monitor student behavior on the bus and protect students from inappropriate actions of other students.
c. Maintain consistent standards of conduct throughout the school system.
d. Utilize student behavior management to include student developmental levels to help prevent discipline issues from developing, to intervene early in their development of behavior issues to reduce their growth, and to provide for consistent and appropriate consequences if the behavior escalates.

6. Provide ongoing communications with dispatchers.

a. Communicate with dispatchers through radio use, students through personal contact, school administrators through personal and written contact, and parents through personal, telephonic, and written means.

7. Provide safety and emergency training to all students.

a. Train students on the proper way to ride a school bus during the first week of school, including loading and unloading protocol, proper seating, railroad crossings, and various other issues.
b. Provide ongoing emergency training concerning the actions to be taken in various emergency situations on a monthly basis.
c. Provide emergency evacuation training that is simulated monthly and practiced twice a year.

8. Maintain student confidentiality concerning any issues occurring during routes.

9. Act as a school system ambassador.

a. Act in a professional and courteous manner.
b. Treat all individuals with respect and patience.

10. Prepare pre-trip and post-trip inspections.

a. Perform and log physical inspections of the soundness and safety of each vehicle prior to operations and after operations, including inspections in the morning before routes and after routes, and in the afternoon before and after routes.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to touch, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

In case of emergency the employee must be able to lift and/or move more than 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Requirements:

Vision 20/40 or better

Girth no more than 55 inches

Type 1 diabetic, insulin-dependent not eligible

Benefits and Responsibilities for Full-Time and Substitute Drivers

Full-Time Drivers

Drivers offered benefits such as health, dental, life, etc.
Drivers are paid monthly on a prorated salary: 12 months
Drivers are responsible for keeping his/her assigned bus clean.
Drivers are responsible for his/her bus being fueled on assigned day. (If not, you must fuel your own bus)
Drivers are to maintain a minimum of 5 typed current student registers on the bus at all times.
Drivers are to have 2-way radios on and functioning at all times.
Drivers are to stop properly at Railroad Crossings.
Drivers are to maintain proper student discipline.
Drivers are to stop completely at dangerous intersections.
Drivers are to wait at least 15 seconds at designated bus stops, to pick up students before departing from that bus stop.

Substitute Drivers Benefits

Bus drivers and full time sub bus drivers are eligible to receive insurance and benefits.
Part-time sub drivers will be paid the per day rate, established by the board, no benefits.
Full time sub drivers will be paid annual yearly salary established by the board.
Sub drivers are responsible for cleaning the bus that he/she use for work.
Driver MUST report and sign in daily with the dispatcher in order to be paid for that day.

Substitute Drivers and Bus Monitors Reporting Time:

AM: Must report to the bus shop at 6:00 a.m. and remain until 8:00 a.m.
PM: Must report to the bus shop at 2:30 p.m. and remain until 4:30 p.m.

ATTENDANCE

Regular and prompt attendance is expected and required of Transportation Department employees.

In case of an emergency or other circumstances when it is impossible to give advance notice, employees must call their Transportation Supervisor or designee personally before it's time to report to work