Job Description

Title:   BUS DRIVER ASSISTANT

Position Type: 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.

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.

10/25/2024