Position Summary

Under general supervision, the school bus driver is responsible for safely operating a school bus or transportation vehicle over designated routes to transport special needs students and to assist in the general cleaning and servicing of school buses and fleet vehicles.

Distinguishing Characteristics

Transporting students over designated scheduled mountain routes and/or to/from special excursions, sometimes in hazardous winter weather conditions in highly congested tourist areas, ensuring vehicle operation is in a safe operating condition and ensuring safety of general and/or special education students during transport, loading and unloading from buses.

Supervision Received and Exercised

This position is under the supervision of the Director of Transportation.

Examples of Duties and Responsibilities (Examples of Essential Job Functions)

Duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Drive a bus for regular or handicapped children;
• Transport students between home and school and on extracurricular activities;
• Clean and maintain the exterior/interior of the bus;
• Assist in the keeping of records on mileage, pupil counts, maintenance and time;
• Maintain good rapport with handicapped students who may have some communication difficulties;
• Supervise students riding the buses;
• Assist physically handicapped students on and off the bus;
• Inspect the bus daily to insure safe operating conditions;
• Make occasional minor emergency repairs;
• Perform minor vehicle maintenance, such as refilling fluid levels;
• Administer first aid in emergency situations;
• All bus drivers shall be required to systematically inspect school buses under their control and maintain a service long, which shall be kept in the Transportation Office.
• At least once a day, bus drivers shall submit a signed vehicle inspection report to the Transportation Supervisor indicating the condition of the buses under their control and recommend repairs needed to the bus;
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications/Employment Standards

Knowledge of:

• Vehicle laws;
• Rules and regulations pertaining to the transportation of students;
• Safety and bus evacuation;
• Child abuse reporting.

Ability to:

• Drive a school bus and other transportation equipment safely and efficiently;
• Lift and/or assist physically handicapped children, if required;
• Follow written and oral instructions;
• Work effectively with young individuals;
• Learn local roadways;
• Must be able to comprehend the fundamental categories and ranges of disabilities experienced by the students they transport;
• Adapt to changing work demands;
• Manage task priorities to meet deadlines;
• Work under varying degrees of stress;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of individuals and groups;
• Read and comprehend fine print, such as schedules, spreadsheets, etc.;
• Communicate effectively via telephone and in person;

Education and Experience

• Graduation from high school or comparable demonstration of basic competence.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Must have completed appropriate coursework for school bus driving certificate.
• Must maintain and keep current on in-service training as required by law.

License Requirements

• A valid California Class B License with Passenger endorsement.
• A valid California School Bus Driver Certificate.
• A valid California Medical Certificate.
• A valid First Aid Certificate and/or pass the CHP First Aid Exam.

Physical Demands & Working Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to loud noise levels, fumes or airborne particles, noxious odors, vibrations from driving a bus and traffic. The employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts and outside weather conditions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, use foot controls to drive, reach with hands and arms, climb, bend, stoop and kneel and talk or hear. The employee must be physically able to perform and demonstrate emergency evacuation procedures. This includes the pushing/pulling of up to 50 pounds. In addition, have the ability to use emergency exits at any location on the bus. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, night/dusk vision, color vision and peripheral vision.

Other Requirements

• Must be fingerprinted and a satisfactory Department of Justice records check must be received by HCOE prior to employment.
• TB testing and/or risk assessment will be required upon employment.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical (if applicable).
• May be required to obtain first aid and CPR certificates within the first 6 to 12 months of employment.
• May be required to drive with or without students; some positions may require a California driver’s license, proof of insurance and possible participation in the DMV PUll Notice Program once employed.
• Employees employed in safety-sensitive positions, such as bus drivers, will be subject to random drug testing, as required by law.

Classified | Range 9 (Reclassified from Range 34)
Personnel Commission Approved 4/19/2022
Revised 4/2023