Bus Assistant - Transportation Central

Cherry Creek Schools; Aurora, Northern (CO, KY); Hybrid; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Cherry Creek Schools is seeking a Bus Assistant to support students with special needs during bus transport. You will monitor safety, assist with entering/exiting the vehicle, secure wheelchairs, and communicate essential information to drivers and guardians.

The role requires working in a moving vehicle, following district protocols, and maintaining confidentiality. Training and certifications are part of the job, with ongoing collaboration on safety procedures.

Qualifications

• Criminal background check and fingerprinting required.
• High School Equivalency (HSE) diploma.
• No professional work experience required.
• CPR and First Aid certifications within 90 days of hire.
• Intermediate verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to consistently report for scheduled work.
• Ability to maneuver heavy wheelchairs up to 800 pounds.

Responsibilities

• Monitor students with special needs during bus rides and ensure safety.
• Provide emotional support and assist with entering/exiting the bus.
• Secure wheelchairs and adjust safety restraints on board.
• Perform pre- and post-trip vehicle inspections.
• Communicate student information to drivers and parents; submit records.
• Collaborate on emergency evacuation planning and procedures.
• Maintain certifications and attend training sessions annually.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Confidentiality

Emotional stability

Wheelchair handling

Moving vehicle safety

Education

High School Equivalency (HSE) diploma

Job description

Bus Assistant

JOB SUMMARY

Collaborate with bus drivers by monitoring and assisting students with special needs to ensure safe, efficient, courteous, and customer-service oriented experience for students, parents/guardians, and staff.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The subsequent duties outline the fundamental operations of the position and exemplify the nature of the tasks carried out. They do not encompass a comprehensive inventory of the obligations and responsibilities fulfilled in this role. The approximation of frequencies and time allocation percentages are flexible and subject to the requirements of the organization.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• 1. Consistently monitor students with varying special needs during the bus ride. Assess any medical or behavioral situation and take safety steps accordingly; identify problems and act quickly, safely, and according to District protocol and guidelines. Provide initial first aid/emergency care when needed. Exemplify understanding of and compassion and tolerance for students’ physical conditions and lack of body function control. Daily – 35%
• 2. Provide emotional and behavioral support and physically assist students with a variety of special needs and disabilities with entering/exiting the bus, walking, sitting, securements, backpacks, etc. Use a variety of equipment to ensure students are safely and comfortably secured. May include but not limited to: wheelchair lifts, securements, vests, seatbelts, integrated seats, etc. Daily – 20%
• 3. Safely secure wheelchairs on board the bus without compromising wheelchair structure. Identify and execute emergency release mechanism if necessary. Properly adjust a student’s safety vest and its attachments and properly position student adjustments of wheelchair and car seats. Maintain and replace District equipment as needed. Daily – 20%
• 4. Perform pre- and post-trip vehicle inspections with the bus driver. Daily – 5%
• 5. Communicate student information to the bus driver, parents/guardians, and/or teachers when needed. Prepare and submit all required records and reports in a timely and acceptable manner. Maintain the students’ emergency card book that contains confidential information. Daily – 5%
• 6. Collaborate with the bus driver to formulate an emergency evacuation plan. Execute emergency evacuation procedures if necessary, which may include stopping and securing the vehicle in the event the bus driver is incapacitated and utilizing bus equipment including but not limited to the bus radio, emergency signal lights, first aid kit, and fire extinguisher. Read maps of area and know route directions to assist any substitute bus driver. Work as a team with the bus driver to best service the affected student(s) while confined to small spaces. Monthly – 5%
• 7. Maintain all required certifications and participate in regularly scheduled training meetings. Annually – 5%
• 8. Perform other duties as assigned or requested. Daily – 5%

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

This job has no direct supervisory responsibilities.

• N/A

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

The minimum prerequisites of formal education, professional work experience, certifications, licenses, endorsements, designations, trainings, and other criteria that a candidate must fulfill to be considered for a position. It is essential that certifications, licenses, endorsements, designations, and trainings are fulfilled, valid, and not expired.

• Criminal background check and fingerprinting required
• High School Equivalency (HSE) diploma
• No professional work experience required
• CPR and First Aid certifications within 90 days of hire
• Intermediate verbal and written communication skills
• Intermediate interpersonal relations skills
• Intermediate organizational skills
• Ability to consistently report for scheduled work
• Ability to learn and master skills related to transporting students with special needs
• Ability to diffuse and manage stressful situations
• Ability to maintain confidentiality in all aspects of the job
• Ability to demonstrate emotional stability with challenging situations
• Ability to work within a moving vehicle for up to four hours
• Ability to work in existing and varying weather conditions
• Ability to work alone and with others
• Ability to maneuver heavy wheelchairs (manual and electric) that total weight up to 800 pounds.Criminal background check and fingerprinting required for hire

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

The physical demands, mental functions, cognitive capacities, and work environment factors required to perform a position’s essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Heavy work strength level (lifting or carrying up to 100 pounds)
• Works both indoors and outdoors
• Typically a moderate noise level
• Work location is subject to change to meet the requirements of the organization

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Formal education, professional work experience, certifications, licenses, endorsements, designations, trainings, and other qualifications relevant to the position that are strongly preferred but not mandatory for a candidate to be considered.

• Experience working in the public sector
• Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds
• Racially conscious and culturally competent with the skill, will, capacity, and knowledge to commit to a culture of continuous improvement
• Work requires maneuvering heavy wheelchairs (manual and electric) that total weight up to 800 pounds with student/chair combined (e.g. maneuvering up ramps, over curbs, and around the inside of a bus)
• Frequent bending, reaching, squatting, and climbing
• Eye/hand coordination
• Visual concentration
• Concentrated reading/writing/mathematics
• Prolonged standing and walking
• Overhead work
• Occasional lifting, pulling, and pushing
• Work within a moving vehicle for up to four hours
• Work in any existing weather conditions