North Little Rock School District Transportation Bus Driver

Transportation - Bus Driver

The role of the Transportation Bus Driver is vital in ensuring the safe transportation of students within the North Little Rock School District. This position requires a steadfast commitment to upholding stringent safety protocols while operating the school bus. Additionally, Bus Drivers may offer passenger assistance, including facilitating the boarding and disembarking process for passengers.

Essential Functions:

• Maintain a high standard of professional conduct, including punctual attendance and independent time-management.
• Clock in at the assigned scheduled time.
• Clock out in a timely manner upon completing assigned duties and tasks.
• Obey all traffic laws.
• Observe all mandatory safety regulations for school buses.
• Maintain discipline when students are on the bus and submit conduct referrals to report misconduct following the proper protocol.
• Keep assigned bus clean.
• Follow assigned schedule on route.
• Maintain an updated seating chart.
• Assist bus aide with loading and unloading of a wheelchair.
• Familiarize themselves with assigned routes, runs, bus stops, student names and exceptionalities.
• Pre-trip the bus before each operation for mechanical defects or damage.
• Complete a walkthrough after each trip/run to ensure that all students have unloaded.
• Attend monthly trainings.
• Stay in compliance by renewing driver's license in a timely manner and updating approved state or DOT physicals prior to expiration.
• Notify the proper authority in case of mechanical failure or lateness.
• Discharge students only at authorized stops.
• Exercise responsible leadership when on in-district and out-of-district school trips.
• Transports only authorized/assigned students.
• Report all accidents and incidents and complete required reports.
• Enforce regulations against smoking and eating on the bus.
• Report for drug/alcohol testing as required by board policy.
• Follow all District protocols and board policies.
• Prioritize safety as an essential function of daily operations, consistently adhering to all regulatory guidelines, district policies, and defensive driving protocols.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Position Qualifications:

• Minimum of twenty-one (21) years of age

Competency Statements:

• Passenger and Customer Focus- Prioritize student safety and well-being during transit while strictly adhering to district transportation policies and state motor vehicle procedures.
• Inclusive Student Management- Model respectful, equitable behavior and manage student conduct effectively, fostering a safe and supportive environment for all passengers regardless of demographic background or individual needs.
• Diversity Oriented- Ability to work effectively with people regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion or job type.
• Professional Integrity and Trustworthiness- Demonstrate strict adherence to safety regulations and maintain transparent, honest communication with transportation supervisors, school administrators, parents and co-workers to ensure operational credibility.
• Stress Tolerance and Situational Composure- Maintains calm, focused control of the vehicle and passengers during high-stress situations, heavy traffic, or adverse weather conditions to ensure safe, deliberate decision-making.
• Operational Reliability and Punctuality- Commit to consistent, punctual attendance and exact route scheduling to guarantee dependable student pick-up and drop-off windows.
• Team Alignment and Student Leadership- Cultivate cooperation and establish positive authority on the bus, motivating students to follow safety rules and work together to maintain a distraction-free ride.

Education: High school diploma or general education degree (GED) preferred. Experience: No prior experience is necessary.

Skills and Abilities:

• Current Driver's License. Class B CDL with passenger, and school bus endorsements or the ability to obtain a Class B CDL with the assistance of the North Little Rock School District Training Department within a reasonable timeframe determined by the Transportation Department.

Other Requirements: DOT Drug Test Program, FBI and ASP Background Check, Child Maltreatment Background Check, exceptional driving record

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 essential functions, provided supporting medical documentation is submitted.

Work Environment: The School Bus Driver must perform their duties in a variety of weather conditions, including extreme cold and extreme heat.

Equal Opportunity Employer: The North Little Rock School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.