Bus Driver (Sparta Elementary School)

Alleghany County Schools•Sparta, NC

About The Position

Under general supervision, the Bus Driver operates a school bus on assigned routes and schedules to provide safe and efficient transportation for students. The work includes inspecting and operating the bus, following traffic laws and school bus regulations, maintaining student discipline, completing required reports, and securing the bus at the end of each run or route. The driver is expected to use tact and courtesy when interacting with students, their parents or guardians, and school personnel. This position reports to a Zone Transportation Supervisor for bus driving duties.

Requirements

High school graduation, with some experience driving large vehicles; experience transporting people is preferred, or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
Possess and maintain a valid North Carolina Class A or Class B Commercial Driver’s License with school bus certification.
Knowledge of safe and efficient school bus operating practices, traffic laws, school bus regulations, safety standards, and Transportation Department Operating Instructions.
Ability to inspect the bus, identify and report observable mechanical defects, maintain student discipline and bus cleanliness, and complete required reports.
Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions, exercise independent judgment and initiative, and communicate effectively in standard English.
Ability to use tact and courtesy and establish effective working relationships with students, parents or guardians, and school personnel.
Ability to operate a school bus physically, including rapidly steering and braking in an emergency and completing the specified emergency exit sequence within 20 seconds.
Ability to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, 25 pounds frequently, and 10 pounds constantly; the position is classified as Medium Work.
Adequate coordination, manual dexterity, and vision to operate bus equipment and recognize traffic signal colors.
Sufficient hearing to distinguish warning sounds such as horns, sirens, screeching tires, grade-crossing alarms, and train whistles.
Ability to communicate with people, work under stress, and handle situations involving people acting under stress.

Nice To Haves

Experience transporting people.

Responsibilities

Perform and document required pre-trip and post-trip inspections in accordance with Transportation Department Operating Instructions.
Report mechanical defects or failures to the appropriate transportation supervisor, routing specialist, on-duty mechanic, or bus garage control center.
Inspect a substitute bus when the assigned bus is declared unfit for service.
Check after each run for students remaining aboard, irregularities, or vandalism.
Operate the assigned school bus on the routes and schedule provided by the Zone Transportation Supervisor.
Report route changes resulting from students added to or removed from the route by the school principal on the day they occur.
Obey traffic laws and school bus regulations and observe school bus safety standards, including clearing and evacuating the bus in an emergency.
Use the School Bus Driver and Safety Assistant Handbook for guidance as needed.
Maintain student discipline using a plan consistent with the principal's disciplinary objectives, and report undisciplined students to the responsible principal.
Discharge students only at authorized schools or bus stops and transport only authorized students.
Keep the bus clean and free of items that could create a safety problem.
Report accidents as required and remain at the scene until released by the on-scene transportation supervisor.
Remain responsible for students aboard during an accident, assess injuries, and maintain passenger safety.
Complete a personal time card and required reports, including accident or incident reports.
Secure the bus at the end of each run or route, including parking it properly, checking for damage and remaining passengers, and securing windows and doors.
Maintain acceptable working relationships with students' parents or guardians and school personnel.