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Bus Driver

PENINSULA SCHOOL DISTRICT
Job Description

SCHOOL BUS DRIVER

JOB SUMMARY:
This position safely operates school buses under all types of weather conditions, including, but not limited to fog, rain, sleet, snow, and ice. Responsibilities include transporting students and other authorized persons over regular “to and from school” routes, and on field, co-curricular, and special or extra activity trips as authorized by the school district officials.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS:
Reports to Transportation Supervisor and/or designee

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

  1. Drives school bus on scheduled routes and/or on all types of trips in support of district-approved activities, both within and outside the school district boundaries.
  2. Operates and services all school bus equipment and accessories, including, but not limited to, fire extinguishers, highway warning kits, snow chains, sanders, first aid kits, etc.
  3. Pre-trip and post-trip inspection (clean school buses, including interior/exterior sweeping and washing).
  4. Maintains control of student passengers as related to safety and behavior. Reports unsafe actions or conditions which require the attention of any person other than the driver.
  5. Successfully completes school bus driver training programs and courses established by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and completes training programs and courses as offered by Peninsula School District’s Transportation Department.
  6. Completes legible and accurate forms, records, timesheets, trip requests, route studies, trouble reports, misconduct reports, accident reports, and other clerical-type activities as may be required. Completes forms, records, and reports as required by the State or local school district policies.
  7. Operates all hand and foot controls installed in a school bus as required by Washington State (minimum) School Bus Specification. Operates a school bus in accordance with the laws of the State of Washington and policies promulgated by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
  8. Performs required operational and safety inspections of the school bus and related equipment.
  9. Ability to maintain effective working relationships with students, parents, staff, and the general public.
  10. Possesses sufficient strength and agility to assist ill or physically impaired students to enter or exit a school bus through passenger service door; able to move about in an over-turned bus; provides assistance to students in evacuating bus. Has no physical limitations which would prevent satisfactory performance of job duties.
  11. Performs basic first aid and CPR as appropriate.
  12. Performs other school bus driver related duties as assigned.

AFFILIATION: PSE-Bus Drivers

FLSA: Covered

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Must not have been convicted of any violation of law involving physical molesting, abuse, injury or neglect of a minor.
  • Applicants whose abstracts show convictions of driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, negligent driving or hit and run should not be considered for employment.

Education and Experience
High school graduation or equivalent and demonstrated skill in reading, writing and communication; and five years prior driving experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Above-average knowledge and skill of equipment operation.
  • Knowledge of or ability to learn area and routes of school district buses.
  • Knowledge of policy and procedures of districts Transportation Department.
  • Ability to communicate clearly with students, parents, staff, and the general public.
  • Ability to maintain effective working relationships with students, parents, staff, and the general public.
  • Sufficient strength and agility to lift and carry ill or physically impaired students.
  • Excellent hearing and vision capabilities.

Licenses/Special Requirements

  • Valid Washington State driver’s license with commercial driver endorsement.
  • Must be 21 years of age.
  • Complete physical certifying medical ability to drive a school bus.
  • School bus driver’s certificate.
  • Driving abstract from Department of Licensing.
  • Successful completion of school bus driver training programs as established by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and training programs and courses as offered by the district’s Transportation Department.
  • Complete training in first aid and CPR as required by the district.

SUMMARY:
The job of a school bus driver is complex. An analysis of the duties of the school bus driver shows that they must have certain knowledge, skills, and understanding. The driver must operate a motor vehicle, and deal with students, parents, the public, and school authorities. Drivers must prepare reports; know and observe rules and regulations governing the performance of his/her duties. When and if an emergency arises, the driver must know how to render first aid to the injured, make proper reports of accidents, safeguard other vehicles, perform other duties as situations require. Such varied responsibilities are indicative of the necessary qualifications of a school bus driver.

Under Washington State law, there are a number of requirements that a person must meet in order to qualify as a school bus driver candidate. Once it has been established that a person meets these qualifications, then additional district requirements must be met.

Updated: 01/1994