Bus Driver

School Bus Driver

Location: Transportation Department Reports to: Director of Transportation Pay grade: TR2, $20.90 per hour minimum once fully credentialed; (2025-2026 rate; will be adjusted upward for 2026-2027) Hours/days: 5 hrs daily, 173 days per school year

Primary Purpose: Step into a job where every mile matters! A Navarro ISD Bus Driver is entrusted with the incredible responsibility of skillfully and safely transporting our students, ensuring that they arrive on time ready to learn and return home with a smile. This vital role requires strict adherence to all State, Federal, and local laws in addition to district policies and procedures.

Qualifications:

• Valid Texas Commercial Driver's License (Class B) With "School Bus" and "Passenger" endorsements (on-the-job training available to get your license)
• Valid School Bus Driver Certification Card
• Ability to pass U.S. Department of Transportation alcohol and drug tests and annual physical exam
• Acceptable driving record
• Acceptable Fingerprinting and Criminal History Record

Special Knowledge/Skills:

• Must be 18 years of age
• Ability to complete required bus driver safety training
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions
• Ability to use maps and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to follow routes and locate addresses
• Ability to manage student behavior
• Ability to communicate effectively with others
• Ability to operate bus

Experience:

• None required

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

Vehicle Operation:

1. Drive bus daily following assigned route and adhering to established schedules.
2. Drive bus to and from extracurricular activities.
3. Anticipate problems such as traffic, weather, road conditions, and schedule changes and make necessary adjustments to ensure student safety and reduce delays.
4. Perform pre- and post-trip inspections according to specifications to ensure bus can be operated safely and notify supervisor of needed repairs. Keep assigned bus clean and maintain appropriate level of fuel.
5. Report all accidents, vehicle damage, student injuries, and mechanical problems and complete required corresponding reports.

Student Management:

1. Instruct students on safe entering, exiting, and passenger rules and regulations. Supervise students while they board and leave the bus and cross the street.
2. Perform emergency evacuation of students on bus when the situations warrants.
3. Maintain discipline and use effective behavior management control over groups of students. Report student discipline problems to appropriate administrator and communicate with teachers and parents regarding student's behavior when warranted.

Safety:

1. Observe all traffic laws and safety regulations for school buses.
2. Know, recognize and obey road signs and signals by meanings, shapes, sounds and colors.
3. Ensure proper condition of emergency equipment, such as first aid kit, fire extinguisher, flags, fuses, crowbar, and reflector.
4. Correct unsafe conditions in work area and promptly report conditions that are not immediately correctable to supervisor. Report any hazardous conditions along scheduled route.
5. Maintain safety certification. Follow district safety protocols and emergency procedure, including evacuation procedures.

Other:

1. Attend all scheduled in-service training.
2. Operate and monitor two-way radio equipment to communicate with transportation office and other drivers.
3. Complete and maintain accurate, up-to-date, and timely records and reports including but not limited to those related to bus mileage, gas and oil consumption, and number of passengers transported.
4. Adhere to guidelines as stated in the Texas School Bus Certification or Recertification Handbook.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors:

Tools/Equipment Used: Operate school bus; two-way radio; global positioning system (GPS); safety equipment including but not limited to flares, reflective signs, and fire extinguisher

Posture: Prolonged sitting; frequent standing and twisting; occasional kneeling/squatting, bending, stooping, and pushing/pulling

Motion: Prolonged driving; moderate walking; frequent climbing stairs, grasping/squeezing, wrist and shoulder flexion/extension, and reaching

Lifting: Limited light lifting and carrying (less than 15 pounds) on a daily basis

Environment: Frequent exposure to extreme hot and cold temperatures, noise, and vehicle fumes; work around moving vehicles; regularly work irregular hours, and occasionally work prolonged hours

Mental Demands: Maintain emotional control under stress