HEAD START - RXII - Substitute Bus Monitor

Bus Monitor

The Bus Monitor is responsible for assisting other transportation staff in the overall safety, care, and development of the young children entrusted to them. The Bus Monitor responds to the personal care and emotional needs of individual children. The Bus Monitor is also responsible for the safe, comfortable transportation of each child and the transfer of information and goods between the family and the center. The Bus Monitor supervises the safe behavior of all children on the bus, maintains the cleanliness of the bus, and maintains the necessary supplies and information to fulfill responsibilities. Helps recruit potential parents by providing information to them about the various program services and benefits offered to enrolled children and families.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

Safety, Sanitation and Maintenance

1. Complies with safety, sanitation, and other guidelines for serving enrolled children (i.e. Childcare Licensing Standards, Head Start Performance Standards, and Tri-Valley policies).
2. Assures that children are dressed appropriately for the weather and type of play in which they are engaged.
3. Assures that all children are properly fastened into a secured child restraint seat that is labeled and adjusted for the child.
4. Models and encourages appropriate health and safety habits.
5. Provides a comfortable atmosphere, which prevents disruptive, unsafe behavior.
6. Assists each child on and off the bus, and to and from his/her seat as needed.
7. Releases young children into the care of their parent or guardian designated by the parent according to program policy.
8. Administers First Aid and/or CPR when necessary.
9. Maintains adequately supplied School Bus First Aid and Biohazard kits.
10. Is knowledgeable of and complies with approved procedures for various emergency situations.
11. Reports all incidents and completes incident reports as needed to the Center Manager. Informs the nurse and the parents of any injuries.
12. Maintains a bus that is clean and well supplied according to transportation procedures.
13. Assures that children are supervised at all times.
14. Maintains, cleans, and disinfects child restraint seats.
15. Assists in the cleaning of the vehicle's interior as needed.
16. Properly installs and removes child restraint seats as needed.
17. Maintains an inventory of all child restraint systems and belts, updates this inventory at the end of the program.
18. Have or obtain within 90 days of hire a First Aid and CPR Certification as well as maintain the certification during employment.

Information and Communication

1. Organizes and maintains Bus Monitor Binder, ensuring that all bus and center information is accurate and up to date.
2. Maintains a current record of the route and the children who are to be picked up and dropped off at each stop.
3. Maintains route attendance and assures that all children are off the bus at the end of each route.
4. Assures the transfer of information, supplies, and medication between home and center.

Schedules, Plans and Transitions

1. Assists the Center Manager and bus driver in developing a bus route that, when possible, remains within a one-hour time frame.
2. Provides predictable routines to help children gain a sense of security.

Individualizing

1. Provides consistent care to the children.
2. Assists teaching staff in the maintenance and documentation of communication with families.
3. Respect children's individual differences.

Communication

1. Assists in providing an environment that encourages verbal interaction.
2. Promotes interactions with other children, encouraging use of words.
3. Encourages expression of feelings.
4. Engages in conversation in child's language of choice as much as possible.

Guidance

1. Encourages problem solving.
2. Provides opportunities for children to become self-assertive.
3. Provides opportunities for children to develop self-help skills.
4. Sets reasonable and appropriate limits and rules for the bus and explains why.
5. Informs, reminds, and assists children in learning appropriate behavior.

Minimum Requirements

1. Must be at least 16 years of age; candidates are strongly encouraged to obtain their high school diploma or GED.
2. Excellent communication skills, verbally and in writing.
3. Must enjoy and respect young children and their families.

Tri-Valley is a non-profit community action agency. We believe in the value of all human beings. It is that belief that drives our efforts to identify needs, seek resources and provide opportunities for people to thrive.

Our work is committed to strengthening our communities so that its citizens have better places to live, work, worship and enjoy.

The mission of Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. is to provide opportunities to improve the quality of life for people and communities.