MIDDLESEX COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Position: Bus Driver

Position Summary: To transport students safely, efficiently and economically to and from school on a daily basis and to extracurricular events on a non-regular basis.

Job Type: Full-Time

Contract: 10-Month

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Hold a high school diploma or GED certificate.
• Submit at least two references attesting to the applicant's ability and character.
• Meet school bus driver certification requirements.
• Meet or be eligible to meet state requirements for appropriate licensing.
• Meet state physical examination requirements.
• Meet local or state standards for driver record check.
• Meet local or state standards for driving test.
• Possess the ability to operate all vehicle types used in transporting students.

Essential Functions: 

• Conducts pre-trip inspection of school bus prior to every trip for defects. 
• Uses established routes and designated bus stops. 
• Operates bus on approved time schedule. 
• Reports bus accidents and student injuries to authorities. 
• Conducts emergency evacuation drills in keeping with division regulations. 
• Instructs riders regarding being responsible passengers. 
• Drives defensively under varying traffic conditions and inclement weather. 
• Drives with safety of students as first priority. 
• Reports personal absences in time for supervisor to secure substitute driver. 
• Performs bus housekeeping duties inside and out. 
• Fills gas tank and add oil if necessary.                                                         
• Reports bus defects to supervisor. 
• Establishes favorable working relationships with other drivers, maintenance personnel, teachers, students, and principals. 
• Exhibits positive image as loyal representative of the school division. 
• Demonstrates knowledge of rules and regulations promulgated by local, state, and federal authorities. 
• Demonstrates knowledge of state laws and local ordinances. 
• Deals with exuberant behavioral characteristics of youthful riders. 
• Follows disciplinary procedures in keeping with school board policies and administrative regulations. 
• Remains alert, and exercises good judgment concerning emergencies, disabled vehicles and irregular special requests by parents of riders. 
• Dresses appropriately when driving the bus. 
• Performs other duties as assigned by the transportation supervisor. 
• Abides by all Middlesex County School Board Policies and Regulations.

The list of essential functions, as outlined herein, is intended to be representative of the tasks performed within this classification. It is not necessarily descriptive of any one position in the class. The omission of an essential function does not preclude management from assigning duties not listed herein if such functions are a logical assignment to the position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Data Utilization: Requires the ability to review, classify, categorize, prioritize and/or analyze data and/or information.  Includes exercising discretion in determining data classification, and in referencing such analysis to establish standards for the purpose of recognizing actual or probable interactive effects and relationships.
• Human Interaction: Requires the ability to provide guidance, assistance and/or interpretation to others on how to apply procedures and standards to specific situations.
• Equipment, Machinery, Tools and Materials Utilization: Requires the ability to operate, maneuver and/or control the actions of assigned passenger vehicles and safety restraint and wheelchair lift devices.
• Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive and advisory data and information.
• Math Aptitude: Requires the ability to perform addition and subtraction, multiplication and division/ ability to calculate decimals and percentages.
• Functional Reasoning: Requires the ability to apply principals of influence systems, such as motivation, incentive and leadership.  Ability to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to problem resolution.
• Situational Reasoning: Requires the ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental or subjective criteria as opposed to that which is clearly measurable or verifiable. 

Special Requirements: 

• Sensory Requirements: Most tasks require visual perception and discrimination.  Some tasks require oral communications ability.
• Environmental Factors: Tasks are regularly performed with potential exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as temperature and noise extremes, odors, humidity, vibrations, traffic hazards, violence, disease or pathogenic substances. 

The Middlesex County Public School District will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to allow them to perform the essential functions of the job when such individuals request an accommodation.

Education and Experience: Applicant must hold a high school diploma or GED certificate.

Physical Requirements: Tasks involve the regular and, at time, sustained performance of moderately physically demanding work, typically involving some combination of climbing and balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and crawling and that may involve the lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling of moderately heavy objects and materials (20-50 pounds).

Supervision Exercised: Reports to Supervisor of Transportation; Each driver shall be directly responsible to the principals of the schools he/she serves on matters related to student discipline and patron relations.