Bus Drivers

Chippewa Valley Schools•Clinton Township, MI

About The Position

Drives a school bus to transport students to and from school on defined routes and structured schedules while following traffic ordinances, safety policies, and school bus rules. The driver monitors student behavior, boarding, off-boarding, and road crossings, and communicates with students and school staff. Drivers perform daily and pre-run inspections, follow Department of Transportation requirements, and use appropriate procedures for special-needs transportation, emergency evacuations, railroad crossings, and passenger management. They complete required forms and reports and communicate with the central bus garage and school offices by two-way radio. Drivers may also train and evaluate new drivers. Substitute drivers are paid $23.69 per hour and may work flexible schedules or long-term assignments. All drivers begin as substitute drivers until trained and/or certified. Permanent drivers are paid $24.62 per hour, work a minimum of six and up to 7.9 hours per day, Monday through Friday, and may bid on routes based on seniority after training. Both arrangements are listed as effective as soon as possible.

Requirements

High school diploma or general education degree (G.E.D.).
Valid State of Michigan driver’s license held for at least five years.
Knowledge of the English language, including word meanings and spelling, composition, and grammar.
Basic knowledge of State of Michigan vehicle codes and traffic laws.
Ability to read and interpret district policies, guidelines, handbooks, and government regulations.
Ability to read and comprehend safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
Ability to write simple correspondence and routine reports.
Ability to communicate effectively in English with students, school administrators, and staff.
Ability to use common-sense understanding to carry out written, oral, or diagrammed instructions.
Ability to solve practical problems involving several concrete variables in situations with limited standardization.
Ability to use basic computer software applications effectively.
Ability to successfully complete State of Michigan-required driving license tests and Beginning and Continuing Education classes.
Ability to successfully complete physical demands tests and drug tests.
Ability to maintain a CDL license.
Ability to meet the stated physical demands, including occasionally lifting or moving equipment up to 50 pounds and moving or lifting students up to 60 pounds.
Meet DOT-required vision and hearing abilities, including the ability to adjust focus while concentrating on driving.

Nice To Haves

Valid Michigan Commercial Driver’s License with appropriate B-P-S endorsements.
No driving points.
Three years of related experience driving a school bus or other passenger bus and/or experience training school bus drivers.
Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people by road.
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies for effective local, state, and district security operations to protect people.

Responsibilities

Drive a school bus on defined routes and structured schedules, following traffic ordinances and safety policies.
Perform daily pre-trip inspections and inspections before each scheduled bus run to ensure compliance with Department of Transportation regulations.
Stop the bus properly and legally; count boarding students; monitor students getting off and crossing roads; and ensure proper use of danger zones and railroad crossings.
Learn and follow special-needs transportation procedures, including operating a wheelchair lift and securing a wheelchair.
Manage passengers and student behavior according to school policies and procedures.
Carry out emergency evacuation practices and procedures according to school policies.
Complete and submit work orders, pre-trip forms, incident reports, and accident reports.
Use a two-way radio to communicate with the central bus garage and school offices.
May train new Bus Drivers in safe driving methods, techniques, and pre-trip inspections; monitor and evaluate their progress; and provide feedback and instruction.
Maintain and keep driver’s directions current.
Perform other related duties as directed by the supervisor.