Bus Aide

Bus Aide

Assists the school bus driver in providing safe transportation of pupils to and from public schools and various activities, including students with special needs, providing help to the school bus driver; loading/securing wheelchairs on the bus; securing passengers in their seats; and assisting students boarding and exiting the school bus.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assists young and/or disabled students in boarding and/or exiting the school bus.
• Ensures each student is transported in the proper manner (regular seat w/without seat belt, car seat, wheelchair, etc.). It may be necessary to lift/carry students onto or off the school bus. In some cases it will be necessary to lift students into or out of their seats.
• Assists in maintaining discipline and enforcing rules and regulations pertaining to student behavior.
• Tends to the special needs and conditions of each student.
• Assists bus drivers and substitute drivers with directions.
• Learn bus routes, schedules and pickup points.
• May be required to drive students to and from school using a white fleet vehicle.
• Keeps abreast of route and bus stop changes and student day care arrangements.
• Assists driver in conducting scheduled emergency evacuation drills on the school bus.
• Assists the school bus driver in maintaining a clean bus and bus interior. This can include but is not limited to sweeping, picking up articles, and cleaning windows.
• Promptly reports incidents to the Bus Driver and the school staff.
• Returns any personal items left on the bus to the school or the child's family.
• Presents a neat, clean, and courteous appearance to parents, students, school personnel and the general public.
• Must have own means of transportation to travel and meet the assigned bus/driver.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills and/or Abilities Required):

• Education: High school diploma or GED preferred
• Licensure: Possession of a valid driver's license.
• Fingerprint Clearance Card: Must hold valid fingerprint clearance card, prior to reporting to work.
• Experience: Related experience in school transportation preferred. Prior experience with children and/or children with special needs preferred.
• Essential Technical/Motor Skills: General knowledge of the transportation of students. Ability to speak clearly to communicate. Ability to operate the wheel chair lift. Ability to secure wheelchairs. Ability to move about a moving bus to ensure the safety of the children. Must check office mailbox and e-mail a minimum of one time per week and attend scheduled meetings.
• Interpersonal Skills: Excellent communication skills necessary to positively interact with the students, parents, and staff members. Must be able to handle frequent interruptions and deadlines to include changes in schedules due to special students activities to include early dismissal, etc. Ability to establish and maintain a harmonious working relationship with young and disabled pupils and their families with patience and understanding.
• Essential Physical Requirements: Ability to sit for long periods of time. Ability to reach, climb, carry, crawl, push, pull, bend, and stoop. Ability to move about the bus and area around the bus. Ability to lift up to 50 pounds unassisted.
• Licensing Requirements: Ability to obtain First Aid and CPR Certifications within 30 days of employment. Ability to complete wheelchair and special needs handling training

Supervision Exercised: None

Supervision Received: Performs duties under the general supervision of the Director of Transportation who provides an annual performance evaluation. Instructions and assignments are provided through the Coordinator of Transportation, Assistant Coordinator of Transportation and Coordinator of Safety, Training and Recruitment.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements: Must be alert at all times and able to respond to emergencies. Must be able to lift and carry a child up to 50 pounds. Must be able to operate the special equipment on the school bus (wheelchair lift, wheelchair tie downs, car seat, etc.). Requires early morning hours and some late evening hours. Successfully completes all First Aid and CPR requirements in a timely manner. There is a no cell phone use policy while working on a school division owned vehicle and/or while caring for or supervising students. Shift Type: 6 hours per day,.75 FTE Salary Range: Range 1 on Classified Staff Salary Schedule - Starting $14.21 per hour Location: Transportation