Bus Driver (Summer Position)

SOUTH MIDDLESEX OPPORTUNITY COUNCIL•Framingham, MA

4h•Onsite

About The Position

This is a year-round position responsible for the transportation of children from their homes to Child Care/Head Start Centers and Family Child Care homes in the communities, following established schedules. The role requires establishing and maintaining a safe environment for the children during transit.

Requirements

Valid MA CDL with “S” endorsement.
School Bus Driver Certificate.
Excellent driving record.
Comfortable working with diverse backgrounds.
Able to effectively communicate with children, families and co-workers.
Must be or become certified in CPR & First Aid within the time frame required by EEC licensing.
Ability to handle the physical aspects of the position including the lifting of a child during bus evacuations.
Recent physical exam determining good health and meeting all EEC and DOT requirements.
Submit proof of physical exam every 2 years thereafter.
Participate in random drug and alcohol testing.
Successful background check.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual Spanish or Portuguese skills.
Past or present Head Start parents given priority.

Responsibilities

Follow all SMOC policies, EEC regulations and Head Start Standards.
Follow SMOC’s Transportation Plan.
Follow all safety rules as children board and exit the buses and for the release of children to authorized adults.
Comply with all traffic regulations to operate vehicles in a safe and courteous manner.
Conduct proper vehicle pre-trip inspection at the start of each day and inspection of bus at the start of each run.
Promptly report all bus maintenance issues to the Transportation Manager for the program.
Conduct proper vehicle inspection at the end of each run to ensure that all children have exited the bus.
Ensure an additional reviewer does the same end-of-run inspection and both sign attendance acknowledging this.
Ensure there is a bus monitor on all runs with Head Start children.
Ensure there is a bus monitor for childcare runs if there are 8 or more children on the run.
If there is no bus monitor on a childcare run with less than 8 children, the driver must call into the center upon arrival for an additional reviewer to come out to check the bus for any children and sign their attendance before the driver leaves the bus.
In the case of no monitor, the driver must handle monitor responsibilities such as attendances with times, knowing how many children are on the bus at all times, signing children off, checking ID’s.
Ensure one person on every run is certified in First Aid and CPR procedures.
Attend all required staff meetings and training sessions.
Do all annual trainings such as: Strong start and maintaining at least 8 hours per year.
Participate in drug testing when called upon.
Keep bus interiors clean and safe for the children.
Promptly report delays, accidents, or other traffic and transportation issues using cell phone or two-way radio.
Renew CDL license as needed, Bus Driver Certificate annually along with self-certification.
Maintain confidentiality of client, employee and agency information in accordance with federal and state laws and funder requirements.
Ensure compliance with program/department, agency and/or funder requirements, as well as, SMOC policies & procedures.
Engage all families by understanding and addressing their needs whether within or outside the scope of work.
Perform other duties to maintain paid hours, including but not limited to: driving the buses to help with regen, gassing up buses, picking up or dropping off buses for maintenance/repairs, picking up food for centers, bringing necessary items from one center to another.
Work the number of hours paid for.

Benefits

Paid Time Off: up to 3 weeks of vacation, 2 weeks of sick time and 12 paid holidays during their first year of employment (for full-time employees).
Employer-paid Life Insurance & AD&D (for full-time employees).
Employer-paid Long-Term Disability (for full-time employees).
Comprehensive Benefits Package including Medical Plans through Mass General Brigham with an HRA Employer cost-sharing program (for full-time employees).
Dental Plans with Orthodontic Coverage (for full-time employees).
EyeMed Vision Insurance (for full-time employees).
403(B) Retirement Plan with a company match starting on day one (for all full-time and part-time employees).
Additional voluntary benefits including; Term and Whole Life Insurance, Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital indemnity, and Short-Term Disability.
Flexible Spending Accounts.
Dependent Care Accounts.
Employee Assistance Program.
Tuition Reimbursement.