Bus Driver 2026-2027

School Bus Driver

Rate of pay is $26.05/hr Reports to: Director of Transportation

Position Objective: To transport students to and from a variety of school sites and to assure their safety as passengers in the school bus, as well as to ensure that the assigned bus is in a safe operating condition at all times.

Essential Functions:

• Drives a school bus safely and in accordance with time schedules; transports students to and from their homes, a variety of school sites and on field trips as assigned
• Operates a two way radio
• Oversees the loading and unloading of students, releasing students to authorized individual; assures that safety belts are fastened, if necessary
• May operate a special ramp bus; loads and unloads students in wheelchairs on and off bus; inspects wheelchair for operational safety and permits only properly functioning wheelchairs to load; operates ramp, assuring seatbelts are fastened; positions and secures the wheelchairs in bus
• Maintains order and proper discipline of passengers; resolves disputes; documents and reports severe disciplinary cases
• Conducts established safety and operational inspection of assigned vehicle daily
• Assures maintenance of bus in safe and clean operating condition; reports needed mechanical repairs; sweeps interior of the bus and washes windows as needed; follows established security procedures
• Assists in the establishment of drop off and pickup order of assigned students; confers with parents, supervisors, schedulers, and other staff regarding transportation needs; plots route on map, documents route, and adjusts route as necessary for new and/or dropped students
• Monitors students with special health problems while in bus according to written or oral instructions, being aware and alert to any signs of difficulty following prescribed instructions and procedures; administers first aid, and calls for emergency assistance if needed
• Maintains a variety of records and reports including, but not limited to, mileage, routing, maintenance, and time schedules
• Attends meetings, programs, and in-service training as assigned
• Maintains current required licenses and certificates
• Notifies appropriate individuals of any delays in scheduled route
• Follows district policy on accident procedures
• Has knowledge of bus evacuation procedures
• Complies with district handbook
• Maintains compliance with CDL regulations

Additional Functions:

• Assists with other routes when breakdown or other unusual circumstances occur as assigned
• Maintains a neat personal appearance and a pleasant demeanor with students, staff and parents
• Displays professional behavior and language at all times
• Additional duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Must be 21 years of age or older
• Must have a valid Illinois driver's license for three consecutive years
• Must have a valid and appropriate CDL Driver License with passenger endorsement
• Must have a valid Illinois State School Bus Permit
• Must have a safe driving record which meets the Dunlap Community District #323 standards (no more than 1 moving violation within a 36-month period)
• Ability to read and interpret a map
• Ability to establish and maintain proper conduct and safety of passengers on school bus
• Ability to accept/relate to students with a variety of exceptional needs
• Ability to exercise good judgment and extreme caution while operating a school bus
• Ability to remain calm in an emergency situation
• Ability to read and write in English at a level sufficient to successfully perform required duties
• Ability to understand and carry out both oral and written instructions in an independent manner
• Ability to recognize mechanical safety hazards in bus
• Ability to learn to operate a two-way radio using required codes
• Must meet the physical requirements necessary to safely and effectively perform the required duties
• Ability to work in extreme temperatures
• Ability to learn special methods and procedures for working with special needs students, to include handling equipment that may be required in transporting special needs students (i.e. walkers, wheelchairs, oxygen equipment, etc.)
• Ability to obtain CPR and first aid certification
• Ability to maintain professional relationships with students, co-workers, administrative staff and parents
• Experience working with children preferred

Additional Qualifications for Drivers Assigned to Wheelchair Buses:

• Physical stamina and stature to load, unload, and secure wheelchair students
• The willingness to endure exposure to inclement weather
• The skill to operate electrical/manual lifts on ramp buses
• Knowledge of proper safety requirements of individual wheelchairs

Working Conditions:

• Mental Demands: calculating, comparing, evaluation, interpreting, organizing, consulting, analyzing, planning, documenting, specifying
• Physical Demands: Ability to operate a motor vehicle and operate wheelchair lifts, ramps, and securement locks. Continual sitting, reaching, and repetitive hand and arm motions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to talk and hear; stand, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, and reach with hands and arms. Frequent walking, stooping, bending, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing and pulling. Moderate lifting and/or carrying up to 50 pounds or more. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus during the hours of daylight and darkness
• Environmental Conditions: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to outside weather conditions, moving mechanical parts, high, precarious places, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and vibration. Frequent interaction among unruly children. Occasional exposure to blood, bodily fluids and tissue. Occasional evening/weekend/summer work. Occasional driving during the hours of darkness. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud