Bus Driver - IDEA Weslaco (Immediate Opening)

IDEA Public Schools•Weslaco, TX

About The Position

The Bus Driver transports students on scheduled routes between their homes and school sites, as well as on assigned field trips, while ensuring passenger safety. The role operates an assigned school bus, including transporting special education students, and keeps the vehicle in safe operating condition. Employees receive general supervision and work within standard policies and procedures. The position requires at least 32 hours of work per week, excluding assigned extracurricular activities. The driver may work evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended hours when needed. The role requires maintaining appropriate credentials and communicating with campus managers, while responding to feedback and adapting to changing circumstances. IDEA Public Schools is a multi-state network of tuition-free Pre-K–12 public charter schools serving more than 80,000 students in Texas, Florida, and Ohio. The organization describes its mission as helping students get to and through college and emphasizes accountability, urgency, adaptability, feedback, and collaboration.

Requirements

GED or high school diploma.
Experience operating large passenger vehicles, or an equivalent combination of experience and training.
Ability to manage student behavior.
Valid Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with passenger (P) and school bus (S) endorsements.
Completion of a bus driver safety training course.
Must be over 21 years old.
Must pass alcohol and drug tests.
Must pass a DOT physical examination.
Ability to understand and follow directions and feedback.
Ability to self-reflect on performance and work to improve operations.
Availability to work a minimum of 32 hours per week, excluding assigned extracurricular activities, and to work evenings, weekends, holidays, or extended hours as needed.

Responsibilities

Drive a school bus safely according to scheduled routes and time schedules, transporting students to and from their homes, school sites, and assigned field trips.
Ensure the safety of all passengers, including special education students, while operating the assigned vehicle.
Maintain order and appropriate discipline among passengers, resolve disputes, and document and report severe disciplinary cases.
Conduct established daily safety and operational inspections of the assigned vehicle.
Oversee student loading and unloading, release students to authorized individuals, and ensure safety belts are fastened in passenger vans.
Maintain records and reports, including mileage, routing, maintenance, and time schedules.
Notify appropriate individuals of delays in scheduled routes.
Keep required credentials, including the CDL, medical card, and Region One credentials, current in accordance with DOT and IDEA policy.
Communicate with campus managers and receive, consider, and act on directions and feedback.
Prioritize and manage multiple tasks, adapt to changing circumstances, and complete tasks within established time constraints.
Work evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended hours when necessary to meet business needs.

Benefits

Hourly compensation ranging from $19.00 to $23.75, based on experience.
Performance bonus based on team performance and goal attainment.
Medical plan with the majority of the employee premium covered, and the majority of costs for a spouse/domestic partner and children subsidized.
Eligible staff may receive up to 8 weeks of paid family leave for the birth or adoption of a child, depending on tenure and caregiver designation.
Tuition reimbursement of up to 50% of qualifying tuition costs, with a maximum of $5,250 per year, subject to manager discretion and budget availability.
Employer-paid mental and behavioral health support, including five face-to-face counseling sessions per year, unlimited 24/7 telephone counseling, and other work-life services.
Dental and vision plans.
Disability insurance.
Life insurance.
Parenting benefits.
Vacation time.
Referral bonuses.
Professional development.
Relocation allowance may be offered, if applicable.