School Bus Driver

Position Type:
Transportation/Bus Driver

Date Posted:
6/1/2025

Location:
Transportation Facility
Job Description
SHAWNEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Job Title: School Bus Driver
Reports To: Director of Transportation
Site: Transportation Building


Qualifications:
Credentials: "Class B" C.D.L. with air brake and passenger endorsements and bus driver certificate.
Education: High school, GED or equivalent experience is required in lieu of high school degree.


Training or Experience Required : Experience with children with children, preferred. Must be able to obtain CDL and certificate. Must be at least 18 years old to apply .

Job Summary: Under general supervision of the Director of Transportation, performs skilled level bus driving and simple bus maintenance duties while driving a bus route to and from school and to the various routes assigned. Transports sponsors and staff ensuring their safety and wellbeing while on or near the bus. Ensures that safety precautions are followed.


Knowledge, Skills, Competencies and Abilities:

1. Communication Skills (oral, written, or business): Basic communication skills to exchange information, give/receive simple instructions and respond to inquiries.
2. Data Recording/Record Keeping: Performs simple data recording/record keeping operations requiring logging, filing or posting single entry items.
3. Reading and Interpreting: Reads and interprets routine written or printed materials such as safety policies, diagrams, maps, schedules or instruction material.
4. Must have an acceptable motor vehicle driving record and pass any tests that are job related and required by the District. Must be familiar with safety regulations.
5. Has regular contact with children, teachers/staff/sponsors, and parents/guardians of bus riders.
6. Requires interpreting and translating facts and information, explaining and advising passengers of the rules and potential outcomes.
7. If a passenger becomes excessively rude or uncontrollable, must take control of the situation or telephone the office.

Essential Job Functions (PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES):

1. Drives bus to and from school and other locations, following predetermined routes and time schedule. May be required to alter routes to compensate for emergency weather/road conditions. Allows only authorized riders on bus. Picks up and discharges riders at authorized stops.
2. Maintains proper discipline on the bus and ensures that bus rules are followed to maintain safety of driver and passengers. Reports incidents of rule violations to building principals or proper authority in order to correct the problem. May be required to talk with parents.
3. Maintains cleanliness of bus and encourages riders to follow bus rules relative to food, litter, etc.
4. Completes bus inspection report before each operation. Inspects bus fluid weekly. Keeps at least one quarter tank of fuel in bus at all times. Notifies supervisor of routine preventive servicing (gas, oil, anti-freeze, or lube).
5. Immediately reports any equipment or other mechanical problems to his/her supervisor. Notifies supervisor or proper authority of all accidents and bus delays.
6. Insures each student is provided a copy of the bus rider rules. Explains rules, regulations and safety precautions to the riders. Attends necessary bus driver inservice meetings.
7. Must be familiar with school bus regulations as listed in manual for school bus drivers provided by the State Board of Education. Must practice safe driving operations at all times. Must obey all traffic laws and observe all safety regulations.
8. Performs related bus driving duties as assigned.

Other Performance Measures:

1. Successful performance of the job requires people skills to deal with difficult situations, control unruly and often difficult passengers effectively while operating the bus and to resolve problems with parents.
2. Requires following safety guidelines and policies including the Exposure Control Plan established by the District for Bloodborne Pathogens, in order that passengers are transported to their destinations safely and that no harm comes to private/public property or equipment.
3. Requires following school dress standards, being on time and being dependable, and handling other district requirements.
4. Effective problem solving is important to prevent problems from occurring and to resolve them after they occur.
5. Must be able to cooperate with other staff members and have a positive attitude towards staff, students, and the public to enhance educational goals.

Supervision exercised: Employee does not supervise other employees. The driver has overall authority for the operations of the bus.


Complies with Shawnee's Mission Statement in which students are to be provided with skills, knowledge and attitudes to become lifelong learners, complex thinkers, and responsible citizens in an ever-changing global society.


Physical/Mental Requirements and Working Conditions:

1. Must pass annual physical.
2. In a normal work day, the employee must sit 4-6 hours per day; stand/walk 1-2 hours per day.
3. Requires occasional bending/stooping; squatting/crouching; occasional climbing 3 feet of steps to bus; occasional reaching above shoulder; continuous pushing/pulling.
4. Job requires employee to use both feet for repetitive movements as in operating foot controls; to use both hands for such repetitive actions requiring simple to firm grasping.
5. Employee must possess manual dexterity sufficient to operate the bus safely.
6. Employee must possess visual requirement enough to pass the driving test, read signs, road hazards and be able to operate the bus safely in adverse conditions.
7. Employee must possess hearing requirement enough to hear riders, receive communications and hear outside noises: sirens, horns, brakes, etc. that are necessary to operate the bus safely.
8. Employee must possess speaking requirement enough to give instructions/commands to riders, speak to parents, and other staff.
9. Employee must have mobility to get on and off and around bus, to clean and provide routine inspection.
10. Employee must have mental requirement to operate bus, follow safety rules, make sound decisions in often stressful situations, and to handle confrontation effectively.
11. Employee's job requires working close to machinery; working in the outdoors with temperature changes; driving motorized equipment; exposure to toxic gas, dust, fumes, gases.
12. Must be a defensive driver and be extra careful at intersections, railroad crossings, and around other assembly areas.

Terms of Employment: Salary and benefits shall be paid consistent with the District's approved compensation plan. Length of the work year and hours of employment shall be those established by the District. (175 day contract)


Evaluation: Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with Board policy.


FLSA Status: Non-exempt

Revised: March 2, 2020