Bus Driver (2025-2026 school year)

School Bus Driver

Operates school buses safely under all types of weather conditions. Transports students and other authorized persons on regular and special programs "to and from school" routes, on field trips, extracurricular activities, and other extra activities as authorized by the school district officials.

Essential duties and responsibilities include the following. This list is meant to be representative, not exhaustive. Some incumbents may not perform all the duties listed while in other cases related duties may also be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Operate a school bus in accordance with the laws of the State of Washington and policies implemented by OSPI.
• Follow District pupil management policies and procedures.
• Assist students loading and unloading from the school bus as needed.
• Operate wheelchair lift and secure wheelchair for safe transportation.
• Clean and service the school bus to include interior/exterior sweeping, washing and fueling anytime tank is below full.
• Properly operate all hand and foot controls installed in a school bus as required by Washington State School Bus Specifications.

Other responsibilities include preparing work orders on the mechanical needs or problems of the bus or its operating systems, providing support and sustaining positive moral with District Transportation personnel, accurately and legibly completing forms, records, time sheets, trip requests, route maps, accident reports, and other documentation or reports as required, and performing other school bus driver-related duties as directed by District policies.

The preceding list of responsibilities is not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary.

Required qualifications include a high school diploma, being 21 years of age with five years previous vehicle driving experience, work scheduled hours on a consistent basis, possession of a valid Washington State Driver's License; Commercial Driver's License, Class B with appropriate endorsements and a clean 5-year complete driving abstract, criminal background clearance, school bus driver authorization from OSPI, and an excellent driving record.

Additional requirements include successfully meeting all requirements of WAC 180-20, possessing current CPR and First Aid card, and completion of SECURE training.

Knowledge of school board policies and procedures, rules and laws of the road, ability to organize and perform job responsibilities efficiently and independently without close supervision, ability to speak, read and follow written or verbal communications, practice effective safety and security within individual work routines, develop and maintain positive customer relations with staff and service providers, work collaboratively with District staff and promote teamwork with co-workers, practice ethical and professional standards of conduct including the requirements of confidentiality, relate effectively with parents, staff, students and the public in a multicultural and multiracial community, interact positively with a wide-range of temperaments and personalities, use a two-way radio, understand and follow the rules and laws of the road, continue professional growth to meet job responsibilities, demonstrate the desire, skill and patience to work with students with special emotional, academic and social needs, perform job responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodations, knowledge/awareness of own cultural identity and how this influences behavior, and desire to learn about the cultural identity of others, ability to establish and nurture an environment that promotes cultural competence and equitable treatment of staff, students, and patrons of the District, ability to recognize that each person is a unique individual even as we celebrate their group cultural heritage.

Physical demands include standing and walking, bending neck and back, using hands for repetitive grasping and pushing/pulling, squatting, kneeling, and using hands for fine manipulation, sitting, climbing stairs/ladder, lifting and reaching overhead, crawling, and lifting/carrying. The employee must lift/carry up to 10 pounds and frequently lift/carry up to 20 pounds. The employee will occasionally lift/carry a maximum of 50 lbs. Anything over the weight limits should be done as a two-person lift or with a mechanical lift.

Work environment includes outdoor conditions, exposure to outdoor weather conditions, and moderate noise level. The employee is required to properly wear any personal protection equipment supplied by the District. Must be able to work flexible hours with split shifts. Must have the ability to maintain a safe bus environment while monitoring student activity. May have exposure to inclement weather, including but not limited to, snow, rain, fog, ice, sun and extreme heat and cold.

This position typically works the day shift Monday through Friday during the school year. Hours may vary. Other hours and days are possible if a field trip is obtained.

Position reports to the Dispatcher, Assistant Director of Transportation and Director of Transportation. Public School Employees Union (PSE) SEIU Local 1948. Level of compensation Transportation Department on the PSE Salary Schedule. Guest Bus Driving $32.43 per hour. This position includes the following benefits prorated based on FTE Medical, dental and vision, sick leave, life insurance and retirement.