Dispatcher (1-Position)

Dispatcher

Rich Township High School District 227 Position Description

Reports To: Director of Business Services and Transportation

Terms of Employment: 12-month

Salary: $58,000.00 - $64,000.00 (Based on experience)

FLSA Status: Exempt

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Must possess a valid driver's license for three years immediately prior to the date of their application, which has not been revoked, suspended, cancelled, or disqualified.
• Must possess or be able to obtain a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL) with required Passenger (P) and School Bus (S) endorsements.
• Must obtain and maintain all required Illinois school bus driver permits, certifications, and annual requirements.
• Must pass required background checks, physical examination, drug/alcohol screening, and driving record review.
• Must maintain a clean and acceptable driving record as determined by the District and applicable law.
• Must complete all required District, state, and federal training programs before transporting students independently.
• Must be available for field trips, athletic trips, activity trips, summer school, and other transportation assignments as approved by the District.
• Must demonstrate reliability, punctuality, sound judgment, and the ability to respond appropriately during emergency situations.
• Must be able to communicate effectively and respectfully with students, staff, families, and transportation personnel.
• Must demonstrate the ability to manage student behavior in a safe, calm, and professional manner.

Education, Certification, and Experience

1. High school diploma

2. Valid state driver's license required

3. Valid Commercial Driver's License with Passenger and School Bus endorsements

4. Valid school bus driver permit

Job Goals

To ensure the safe and reliable transportation of students to and from school, activities, and District-approved events while maintaining a safe, respectful, and orderly bus environment. The Dispatcher supports the District's commitment to student safety, timely transportation, professional communication, and excellent service to students, families, schools, and the community.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities *Other duties may be assigned.

The Dispatcher shall perform duties and responsibilities including, but not limited to, the following:

• Coordinate the daily dispatch operations for District transportation services, including AM/PM routes, field trips, athletic trips, activity trips, special education transportation, summer school routes, and other District-approved transportation assignments.
• Assign drivers, monitors, buses, and routes to ensure safe, timely, and efficient transportation service.
• Be knowledgeable of and adhere to the law, including but not limited to, the Illinois School Code, State Board of Education rules and regulations, and School Board policies and procedures, and contractual obligations, where applicable.
• Check in drivers and monitors at the start of assigned shifts and confirm that routes are covered and operating on schedule.
• Monitor driver absences, tardiness, call-offs, and route coverage needs, and communicate coverage concerns to the appropriate supervisor.
• Assign buses to routes based on route needs, student needs, vehicle size, wheelchair accessibility, seating capacity, air conditioning, cameras, GPS, and other required equipment.
• Communicate with drivers, monitors, school personnel, administrators, parents/guardians, transportation staff, and District departments in a professional, timely, and courteous manner.
• Operate and monitor two-way radio systems, phones, GPS systems, routing software, tablets, transportation technology, and other communication tools used to support daily transportation operations.
• Provide real-time support to drivers and monitors during routes and trips, including responding to questions, route issues, traffic delays, student concerns, emergencies, accidents, breakdowns, and other operational needs.
• Monitor vehicle locations, route progress, and schedule adherence, and assist with adjustments due to delays, traffic, weather, student needs, driver availability, or other transportation disruptions.
• Follow District procedures for late buses, missed students, extra runs, route changes, accidents, breakdowns, student incidents, and emergency situations.
• Notify the appropriate supervisor, school staff, families, safety personnel, or other District personnel of transportation delays, incidents, or concerns in accordance with District procedures.
• Maintain accurate transportation records, including route assignments, driver assignments, trip tickets, mileage reports, student transportation records, incident reports, call logs, fuel usage, and other required documentation.
• Prepare, update, and distribute route sheets, driver instructions, trip information, and other transportation documents in a timely manner.
• Support the scheduling, posting, monitoring, and assignment of field trips, athletic trips, activity trips, and other extra transportation requests.
• Communicate trip details, driver information, pickup/drop-off times, and related transportation information to schools and departments as needed.
• Assist with monitoring and maintaining specialized transportation equipment, including harnesses, car seats, safety straps, wheelchair equipment, and other student support equipment.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding students, families, routes, and District information according to District policy and state and federal laws.
• Assist with emergency preparedness procedures related to transportation services, including communication protocols, evacuation procedures, and response coordination.
• Support compliance with applicable federal, state, local, and District transportation laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Assist with training, communication, and support for drivers and monitors as directed by the appropriate supervisor.
• Maintain a calm, professional, and solutions-focused approach when responding to transportation concerns, complaints, emergencies, or time-sensitive issues.
• Keep the appropriate supervisor informed of operational concerns, staffing issues, route problems, parent concerns, school concerns, safety issues, or other matters requiring attention.
• When properly licensed and approved by the District, may assist with driving routes or trips as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Business Services and Transportation or designee.

Evaluation Performance will be evaluated by the Director of Business Services & Transportation or designee in accordance with District procedures.

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk, hear, see, and monitor traffic and student activity. The employee may be required to stand, walk, bend, reach, climb, kneel, assist students, conduct vehicle inspections, and respond to emergency situations. The employee must be able to lift, push, pull, or carry up to 50 pounds and work in varying weather conditions. The employee may also be required to operate a school bus as needed by the District. When doing so, the employee will also be subject to any additional qualifications, physical requirements, and duties that bus drivers are subject to. The employee must meet all physical and medical requirements necessary to maintain required licensure, certification, and school bus driver eligibility.

Prepared Date: May 2026