Bus Operator

School Bus Operator

Salary Range: Single Route - $27,837- $42,552 or Double Route - $29,229 - $44,679

Ad Valorem - 2.40 parish property (ad valorem) tax mills are dedicated to employee salaries. The annual receipts from this tax are distributed to employees twice a year, one-half in January and one-half in June. The amount of each employee's supplement is the employee's salary multiplied by the annual percentage (computed each year based on actual tax revenues).

Job Goal

To provide safe, reliable and efficient transportation for students by operating a school bus in compliance with district policies, state and federal regulations and safety standards. The Bus Operator ensures the well-being of students during transit, maintains a disciplined and orderly bus environment, conducts pre-trip and post-trip inspections and communicates effectively with school staff, parents and transportation personnel to support the district's educational mission.

Qualifications (Minimum Education, Licensure, Skills and/or Experience)

Required:

• High school diploma or GED.
• Completion of a Louisiana School Bus Driver Certification Program as required by state law.
• Valid Louisiana Commercial Driver's License (CDL) with Bus Operator Endorsements.

• Must meet all local, state and federal licensing requirements and regulations required to operate a school bus and automobile.

• Must pass and is subject to drug tests as required by federal and state law and the School Board's policies regarding drug testing, operating school-owned vehicles, transporting students and all applicable policies.

• Must complete and pass a physical examination performed by a duly licensed physician.

• Strong understanding of defensive driving techniques and emergency procedures.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills to interact professionally with students, parents, school staff and the public.
• Ability to manage student behavior on the bus in accordance with school district policies.
• Capacity to maintain confidentiality and professionalism in handling student-related matters.
• Basic record-keeping skills to maintain daily logs, mileage reports and incident documentation.
• Pass a pre-employment background check, drug test and physical examination per state and district requirements.

Preferred:

• Minimum of one (1) year of experience as a commercial or school Bus Operator.
• Experience working with children and school transportation operations.
• Familiarity with basic vehicle maintenance and the ability to conduct pre-trip and post-trip inspections in compliance with state and district requirements.
• Working knowledge of Google Workspace.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Technical Duties and Operations:

• Operates school buses and district vehicles in accordance with local, state and federal traffic laws and school district policies to safely transport students and personnel.
• Conducts pre-operation and post-operation inspections of vehicle interiors, exteriors and mechanical systems (e.g., equipment, instruments, safety devices, fuel, engine oil, coolant) to ensure safety, sanitation and compliance with federal, state and local regulations, while maintaining the assigned bus in a clean, organized and hazard-free condition to support safe and efficient operations.

• Adheres to assigned schedules to ensure timely and efficient transportation services while maintaining compliance with operational requirements.

• Assists students and other passengers with safe loading and unloading during regular transport (while staying in the operator's seat) and emergency situations, ensuring adherence to authorized stops and transporting only authorized students to maintain safety and compliance.
• Handles emergency situations such as vehicle breakdowns, accidents or medical incidents by following established district and safety protocols.

• Demonstrates responsible leadership during out-of-district school trips, ensuring student safety, compliance with guidelines and effective trip management.
• Completes and submits daily logs, mileage reports, student attendance records and incident reports as required by district policies.

Communication and Teamwork:

• Fosters positive working relationships by collaborating effectively with supervisors, co-workers and school administration to support departmental and district goals.
• Maintains professional and courteous communication with students, parents, school staff and transportation personnel regarding route changes, delays or safety concerns.

• Reports mechanical issues and needed repairs promptly to the transportation department to support efficient maintenance and operational continuity.

• Reports emergencies, breakdowns, delays and accidents promptly to the Transportation Coordinator or designee, ensuring appropriate responses to safeguard passengers and completes all required accident reports accurately and in a timely manner.

Compliance:

• Adheres to school, district, state and federal regulations for vehicle maintenance and safety inspections to ensure compliance and the safe transportation of passengers.

• Complies with all traffic laws to maintain safe and lawful operation of the vehicle.

• Enforces regulations prohibiting smoking and eating on the bus to ensure passenger safety and adherence to policies.

• Prepares detailed reports (e.g., field trip reports, incident reports, inspection records, passenger misconduct, mileage logs, student counts, routing information) to document activities, provide written reference, convey information and ensure compliance with established guidelines.

Safety and Security:

• Adheres to safety guidelines, secures the bus to maintain a hazard-free environment and maintains full control of the vehicle at all times, remaining alert to ensure the safety of passengers and compliance with mandatory school bus safety regulations.

• Monitors students and other passengers during transit to ensure their safety and compliance with transportation guidelines.

• Supervises Bus Aides during the loading and unloading of passengers, ensuring proper handling of wheelchairs, ramps, safety devices, car seats, lap belts, T-straps and other equipment to prioritize the safety of immobilized passengers.

• Assesses incidents, complaints, accidents and potential emergency situations (e.g., road hazards, medical emergencies) to resolve or recommend appropriate actions to ensure passenger safety.

• Advises students and passengers on appropriate behavior to reinforce safety guidelines, maintains discipline on the bus and reports instances of misconduct to the appropriate authority as needed.

Professional Development:

• Attends mandatory safety meetings, in-service training and certification courses to remain compliant with school district and state transportation regulations.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Performs other job-related duties as assigned to meet the needs of the department.
• Contributes to district-wide projects and collaborates with other departments on cross-functional goals.
• Maintains a valid driver's license and a clear driving record, follows all district policies and state regulations for safe vehicle operation, reports any incidents affecting their ability to drive immediately to their supervisor and ensures proper care, maintenance and responsible use of district vehicles if required to use a district vehicle for assigned duties.

Physical Demands:

This role primarily operates in an indoor, climate-controlled environment, with occasional exposure to moderate temperature variations. The usual methods of performing job functions require moderate lifting (up to fifty [50] pounds), carrying, pushing and pulling with frequent engagement in activities such as standing, walking and sitting. Additional physical requirements include ability to sit for prolonged periods; ability to perform repetitive hand and arm movements; ability to climb up stairs and/or steps; ability to drive within or outside of the district to various schools, meetings and events; ability to work in varying conditions, such as inclement weather, wet or slippery floors and/or exposure to cleaning chemicals; ability to handle changes in temperature and noise levels; ability to manage high levels of physical and mental energy throughout the workday; emotional and physical resilience to handle stressful situations, emergencies or high-demand environments; adequate strength and ability to respond quickly to emergencies, providing first aid or support to students as needed. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

The Plaquemines Parish School System is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex