Bus Driver 2026-2027

Bus Driver

Qualifications: Required: High School Diploma or GED Must be 21 years of age or older Commercial Driver's License (CDL) (with passenger bus endorsement, S endorsement, and air break) State of Iowa school bus operators permit Ability to learn the operation of various buses and handicap equipment. Computer skills useful for maintaining routing and student database. Successful completion of physical, criminal background and child abuse registry check, and pre-work screening at time of hire. Successful experience and competency working in a culturally diverse learning environment. Desired: American Heart or Red Cross First Aid/CPR certification. Practical knowledge of characteristics and needs of Special Education students. One year minimum experience operating a passenger bus.

Job Goal: Operate a school bus in a safe and efficient manner to insure safety of passengers. This position requires continuous use of independent judgment.

Performance Responsibilities:

• Drive and operate a bus, van or passenger vehicle safely and in conformance with District policy and procedures as well as local, state and federal laws and regulations.
• Memorize bus routes, street and roads, and school locations keeping route information current at all times.
• Drive the routes as assigned without deviation unless authorized to do so or specific emergency and common sense dictates otherwise for that incident.
• Maintain good driving habits, practice defensive driving over city, county, and state streets and roads under all types of weather conditions and exercise extra caution when driving around school buildings where children are present.
• Provide support and instruction to students in order to understand school bus safety rules.
• Conduct safe and orderly loading and unloading of students.
• Provides guidance to bus associates in the performance of their respective assignments and duties; providing training as needed.
• Must be capable of maintaining discipline and control on the bus at stops, transfer stations, and while in operation.
• Report inappropriate student conduct to the Transportation Director immediately upon completion of route.
• Report to the mechanic or Transportation Director of any and all mechanical problems immediately.
• Report performance problems and bring workload, routing, pre-trip inspection sheets and scheduling problems to the attention of the Director of Transportation.
• Participate in all training pertaining to the job; including but not limited to mandatory bus evacuation drills as assigned by the Director of Transportation.
• Work with minimum supervision in accordance with published and verbal standards, guidelines, policies and procedures.
• Ensure that bus, van or passenger vehicle is clean inside and out, maintained and serviced; perform daily vehicle inspections; fuel vehicles and record usage on daily logs.
• Maintain up to date driver records such as physical, and school permits, pre-trip inspection paperwork and all other paperwork as required.
• Monitor radio and cell phones and provide radio/cell phone communication.
• Drug, tobacco and alcohol free at all times while working. Participate in all drug and alcohol testing.
• Dependability and reliability are essential. Develop and maintain effective working relationships with students, staff, parents, and community members. Exhibit a positive attitude toward students. Meet with special education teachers to review the students' disabilities and how they might meet the students' needs as well as improve behavior on the bus. Attend annual Blood borne Pathogen Training and other staff development provided by the District.

Physical Demands: Must have physical dexterity in limbs and digits and be free of impairment of the use of a foot, leg, hand, finger, or an arm or other structural defects of limitations likely to interfere with the ability to safely control a school bus, other motor vehicles used for transporting students and handicap lift equipment. Must be capable of assisting in the emergency evacuation of students riding the bus by extraction through emergency windows, doors and roof exits including: Stepping down 3.5 feet from the bus floor to the ground out the rear bus emergency door. Lifting students weighing up to 50 pounds. Must be capable of dragging 125 pounds for a distance of 100 feet. Must be capable of sitting up to 1 hour per setting. Must be capable of standing up to 30 minutes at a time. Must be capable of walking up to 150' to bus under adverse walking surface conditions. Must be capable of operating bus controls requiring up to 30 lbs. force. Must be capable of climbing 4 bus entry steps. Must be capable of trunk rotation and trunk bending for up to 3 minutes at a time. Must be capable of squatting for up to 2 minutes. Must be capable of operating handicap lift equipment, emergency window, door exits and opening engine hood with pull forces up to 60 lbs. Must present appropriate appearance and personal cleanliness suited to working in close proximity to school children and teachers. Must be capable of working with co-workers with different personalities. Must be capable of using flammable and combustible fuels, lubricants, and engine coolants and cleaning chemical with appropriate PPE's. Must be capable of working in extreme temperatures and humidity and other environmental conditions. Must be able to handle situations where contact with bodily fluids is possible. Bodily fluids may be feces, vomit, and urine, mucus from the nose or mouth.

Southeast Polk Community School District