Bus Driver - IDEA River Bluff (Immediate Opening)

IDEA Public Schools•Jacksonville, FL

About The Position

The Bus Driver transports students on scheduled routes to and from school sites and other destinations while ensuring passenger safety. The role operates an assigned school bus, maintains order and discipline among passengers, and keeps the vehicle in safe operating condition. Employees receive general supervision within standard policies and procedures. The position is expected to work at least 32 hours per week, excluding assigned extracurricular activities, and may require evenings, weekends, holidays, or extended hours to meet business needs. IDEA Public Schools is a multi-state network of tuition-free Pre-K–12 public charter schools serving more than 80,000 students across Texas, Louisiana, Florida, and Ohio. The organization describes its mission as helping students get to and through college and emphasizes accountability, action, urgency, adaptability, feedback, professionalism, and collaboration. Compensation is hourly, ranging from $18.49 for employees with zero years of experience to $23.11, with eligibility for a performance bonus based on team performance and goal attainment. IDEA offers a benefits plan that covers most of the employee premium for the base medical plan and subsidizes much of the cost for spouse/domestic partner and child coverage. Other listed benefits include paid family leave, tuition reimbursement, employer-paid mental and behavioral health services, dental and vision plans, disability and life insurance, parenting benefits, vacation time, referral bonuses, professional development, and a possible relocation allowance when applicable.

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 and a DOT physical examination.
Ability to understand and follow directions and feedback.
Ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritize work, and adapt to changing circumstances.
Ability to work a minimum of 32 hours per week, excluding assigned extracurricular activities.
Ability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended hours when required.

Responsibilities

Drive a school bus safely according to scheduled routes and schedules, transporting students to and from their homes, school sites, and assigned field trips.
Ensure the safety of all passengers, including students receiving special education services.
Maintain order and appropriate discipline among passengers, resolve disputes, and document and report serious 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 seat belts are fastened in passenger vans.
Maintain records and reports, including mileage, routing, maintenance, and schedules.
Notify appropriate individuals of delays to scheduled routes.
Keep required credentials, including the CDL, medical card, and Region One credentials, current in accordance with DOT and IDEA policies.
Communicate with campus managers and respond appropriately to directions and feedback.
Prioritize and manage multiple tasks, adapt to changing circumstances, and complete work within established time constraints.
Work evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended hours when necessary to meet business needs.

Benefits

Medical plan with the employer covering the majority of the employee premium and subsidizing most costs for spouse/domestic partner and children.
Up to 8 weeks of paid family leave for eligible staff following birth or adoption, based on tenure and caregiver designation.
Tuition reimbursement of up to 50% of qualifying degree-program tuition, capped at $5,250 per year and subject to manager discretion and budget availability.
Employer-paid mental and behavioral health services, including five face-to-face counseling sessions per year and 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.
Possible relocation allowance, if applicable.
Performance bonus based on team performance and goal attainment.