Bus Driver Assistant
- Non-Exempt
Primary Function
Position is responsible for the safety and care of all students including, students with significant disabilities, special needs or the very young while on a school bus.
Minimum Qualifications
- Ability to deal with exuberant behavioral characteristics of youthful riders, sufficient strength, agility, and dexterity needed to assist students who are physically/mentally challenged.
- Ability to recognize and move quickly to solve problems, familiarity with the proper use of wheelchairs, braces, crutches, etc.
- Ability to determine when a child is behaving abnormally for his/her disability.
- Possess personal characteristics of flexibility, sympathy, understanding, patience, friendliness, and emotional stability.
Performance Responsibilities
- Help students to safely board the bus.
- Ensures that Pre-K and kindergarten students are released to an authorized person.
- Maintain student discipline following the guidelines established by the School Board
- Act in a professional manner exhibiting a positive image in dealing with students, parents, and school division personnel.
- Assist in emergency evacuation drills in keeping with division regulations.
- Attend workshops and safety meetings as directed.
- Report personal absences to supervisor allowing sufficient time to secure a substitute.
- Operate hydraulic-lift equipped bus for the purpose of loading and unloading students utilizing wheelchairs.
- Secure each student into his/her location with either harnesses, seat belts, wheelchair locks, or other safety equipment.
- Be aware of the health and/or behavior problems of each child riding the bus.
- Reports any unusual or changed behavior to the driver, school staff and/or parents.
- Must be able to learn about and adapt to different disabilities and/or special needs such as autism, ED, DD, and LD etc.
- Be familiar with the medical, psychological, and physical background of each child and at the same time respect their right to confidentiality.
- Be alert and exercise good judgment concerning emergencies, disabled vehicles, and special requests by parents of students.
- Instruct students concerning the skills and actions of responsible passengers.
- Perform other duties as assigned by Bus Driver, Bus Driver - Lead, Transportation Area Supervisor, and Director of Transportation.
Position Type: Non-Exempt
Reports to: Bus Driver - Lead. Each driver assistant shall be directly responsible to the principal of the school(s) served on matters related to student discipline and patron relations.
Terms of Employment: 182 days per year. Workshop/in-service as required.
Evaluation: Performance on this job will be evaluated in accordance with school board policy and administrative regulations on evaluation of non-licensed personnel.
Revised: 10/25/2024