Bus Driver Trainee

Lucia Mar Unified School District; Arroyo Grande (CA); On-site; USD 17,000 - 21,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Job summary

Lucia Mar Unified School District is seeking a Bus Driver Trainee for the Transportation site in Arroyo Grande, CA. The position supports student transportation on defined routes, with training leading to a full driver role.

The role requires a high school diploma, a valid California driver license, five years of driving experience, and DMV clearance. Workdays are 192 days, with split shifts and a 5-hour daily schedule.

Responsibilities

• Attends and completes school bus driver training program.
• Drives district vehicle safely on time schedules, transporting students to/from homes and school sites.
• Operates a two-way radio and assists with loading/unloading of students and wheelchairs as needed.

Job description

POSITION(S)

Bus Driver Trainee

Site

Transportation

Requirements

• Graduation from high school or its equivalent.
• Knowledge of operation of vehicles associated with a Basic Class C license; California Vehicle Code; regulations and laws pertaining to pupil transportation in California; first aid practices.
• See job description for full details.

WORK DAYS

192 days (Student days only) - 192 Day Work Year Calendar

Monday - Friday only, 5 hours/day, 6:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. / 2:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

SALARY

Range 0, salary placement at $19.52 hourly

Health Benefits

• Classified Health Plans & Rates

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Friday, October 30, 2026 at 4:30 P.M.

LUCIA MAR UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT CLASSIFIED

Human Resources Job Description

602 F Orchard Street, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420 805-474-3000

DATE

November 18, 2025

TITLE

Bus Driver Trainee

SALARY RANGE

Classified, Range 0

EXEMPTION STATUS

Non-Exempt

Description

The Bus Driver Trainee transports students to and from school, following a preplanned route according to a definite time schedule; regulates heating equipment and ventilation of district van or vehicle for comfort of passengers; drives district van or vehicle carefully and in compliance with traffic regulations; assumes responsibility for the safety of school children in loading, unloading and transporting them to and from school. Instructs children in safety precautions and practices. Upon successful completion as a Bus Driver Trainee (meeting all minimum qualifications as outlined in Bus Driver job description), the Bus Driver Trainee will be promoted to School Bus Driver, which includes a new six (6) month promotional probationary period in the new job classification.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Graduation from high school or its equivalent.
• Experience: Knowledge of operation of vehicles associated with a Basic Class C license; California Vehicle Code; regulations and laws pertaining to pupil transportation in California; first aid practices.
• Personal Qualities: Ability to act calmly and sensibly in stressful situations; react appropriately in emergencies; understand and carry out oral and written instructions; maintain cooperative relations; use good judgment.

Ability to read and interpret a map; ability to learn to operate a two-way radio using required codes

Read and write in English at a level sufficient to successfully perform required duties.

• Certifications: Valid California driver license and successful DMV clearance to operate and transport students in district vehicles.

Valid driver license for at least five (5) years.

Upon successful completion of the bus driver training program, obtain appropriate State licenses to operate all school buses including current MCSA 5875 and MCSA 5876 Medical Examiner Certificate.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Attends and completes school bus driver training program.
• Drives district vehicle safely in accordance with time schedules; transports students to and from their homes, a variety of school sites, and on school related trips.
• Transports students, staff and chaperones to various locations in accordance with departure and return times; collects and carries all required forms including but not limited to log book, trip sheet, maps; exercises responsible leadership when on field trips.
• Operates a two way radio.
• Oversees the loading and unloading of students at appropriate bus stop(s).
• Operates special ramp on vehicles; loads and unloads students in wheelchairs on and off vehicle or bus; inspects wheelchair for operational safety and permits only properly functioning wheelchairs to load; operates ramp, assuring seatbelts on wheelchair are fastened, positions the wheelchairs in bus, and secures the wheelchair.
• Maintains order and proper district and department policies regarding student discipline; resolving disputes, documents and reports severe disciplinary cases.
• Performs daily pre-trip inspection on assigned vehicle daily.
• Assures maintenance of district vehicle in safe and clean operating condition; reports needed mechanical repairs, services district vehicle with gas and water, follows established security procedures.
• Supports with sweeping interior of school busses daily; washes windows as needed; supports with other bus maintenance as required per Vehicle Code;
• Confers with parents, supervisors, schedulers, and other staff regarding transportation needs, plotting route on map, documenting route, and adjusting route for new and/or dropped students.
• Monitors students with special health problems while in vehicle; receives written or oral instructions, is aware and alert to any signs of difficulty following prescribed instructions and procedures, administers first aid as required, and calls for emergency assistance.
• Maintains a variety of records and reports including but not limited to daily check-out report, mileage, routing, maintenance, and time schedules.
• Attends meetings, programs, and in-service trainings as assigned.
• Maintains current required licenses and certificates.
• Notifies appropriate individuals of any delays in scheduled routes.
• Assists with other routes when breakdown or other unusual circumstances occur as assigned.
• Obeys all traffic laws and observes all mandatory safety regulations for school vehicles.
• Performs district vehicle evacuation for assigned route each school year.
• Assists with supervision of students or other duties as assigned at school sites in between routes or as needed in emergency situations.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Essential Job Functions

• PHYSICAL: Employee in this position must have the ability to:
• stand and sit for extended periods of time.
• see and read printed matter with or without vision aids.
• hear and understand speech at normal levels.
• speak English so that others may understand at normal levels.
• stand, walk, stoop, twist, bend over, grasp, reach overhead, push, pull, and move, lift and/or carry up to 25 pounds to waist height; up to 40 pounds occasionally.
• move throughout the building and school grounds as necessary.
• MENTAL: Employee in this position must have the ability to:
• concentrate on a single task for up to three (3) hours at a time.
• learn quickly and adapt to a variety of technology, machinery, instructions, and task methods.
• meet deadlines in terms of work assignment schedules.
• speak and write in a clear, concise manner.
• SOCIAL: Employee in this position must have the ability to:
• interact daily in person with other members of the school staff and possess comfortable interpersonal skills and cooperative attitudes.
• Because of the time urgent nature of duties and because the work product of the position is interdependent with that of other staff, consistent attendance is required.
• convey an understanding, patient attitude toward other students, parents, staff and members of the community.
• maintain the privacy of confidential information including student grades, progress, etc.

NOTE: This list of essential functions and of physical requirements is not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary in accordance with the requirements of the job.

MANDATORY CHILD ABUSE REPORTER: This position is designated as a Mandated Reporter. The position shall report in accordance with California state regulations who observe, have actual knowledge, or reasonably suspect child or elder/dependent abuse or neglect to appropriate agencies.

CANDIDATE SELECTION

The Candidate selected for this position will be required to present prior to the first date of employment: 1) A social security card; 2) Proof of tuberculin risk assessment prior to the first day of hire; 3) Pass State and Federal fingerprint clearances; and 4) Complete all pre-employment training including but not limited to Child Abuse Reporting and Sexual Harassment/Abusive Conduct.

The Lucia Mar Unified School District prohibits unlawful discrimination, intimidation, harassment (including sex-based harassment) or bullying based on a person's actual or perceived race; color; ancestry; nationality; national origin; immigration status; ethnic group identification; ethnicity; age; religion; pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, or lactation, including related medical conditions and recovery; parental, family, or marital status; reproductive health decision making; physical or mental disability; medical condition; sex; sex stereotypes; sex characteristics; sexual orientation; gender; gender identity; gender expression; veteran or military status; or genetic information; or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. For questions or complaints, contact Equity Compliance Officer and Title IX Coordinator: Jennifer Handy, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources at 602 Orchard Street, Arroyo Grande, California, 93420. Phone: [phone] ext. 1190 Email: [e-mail]

ALL MATERIALS ARCHIVED FOR THIS POSITION ARE THE PROPERTY OF THE LUCIA MAR UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

AND MAY BE REVIEWED BY BUT CANNOT BE RETURNED TO THE APPLICANT.