Bus Monitor

Shawnee OK Public Schools; Shawnee (OK); On-site; USD 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Shawnee OK Public Schools seeks a Bus Monitor to observe students during transport. Responsibilities include ensuring safety, assisting special-needs students, and maintaining order on the bus. Qualifications include a high school diploma or equivalent experience. Candidates should possess skills in communication and conflict resolution. The position offers the opportunity to work closely with children, including those with disabilities, while promoting a safe and supportive environment.

Qualifications

• Previous work or volunteer experience with children, including those with disabilities.
• Sensitivity to special needs while in transit.

Responsibilities

• Observe students to ensure safety during transport.
• Assist special-needs students on and off the bus.
• Help maintain good conduct among students.

Skills

Communication skills (oral, written)

Reading and interpreting written materials

Conflict resolution

Education

High school, GED, or equivalent experience

Job description

Job Summary

Performs semi‑skilled level duties under general supervision of the Director of Transportation and indirect supervision of the bus driver to observe students on the bus and to ensure proper and safe behavior while being transported and loaded on and off the bus. Interprets policies and procedures and follows predetermined solutions established by higher level supervision or operating procedures. Must be sensitive to special needs of individual students while in transit and attend to those needs. Must be able to perform tasks with sensitivity and confidentiality.

Job Details

• Job Title: Bus Monitor
• Reports To: Director of Transportation; bus driver while en route.
• Site: Shawnee Public Schools – all sites

Qualifications

• Credentials: None required
• Education: High school, GED, or equivalent experience required in lieu of a high school degree
• Training or Experience Required: Previous work or volunteer experience with children of various ages, including those with and without disabilities and behavioral challenges

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Communication skills (oral, written, or business): Must possess communication skills to exchange information, give/receive simple instructions, and respond to inquiries.
• Reading and interpreting routine written or printed material.
• Regular contact with other children, teachers/staff/sponsors, and parents/guardians of bus riders.
• Interprets and translates facts and information, explains and advises passengers of the rules, and assists the bus driver.
• When a passenger becomes excessively rude, unmanageable, or uncontrollable, must take control of the situation.

Essential Job Functions

• Maintains confidentiality of all students; discussion of students is disallowed without a “need to know” rule.
• Assists young or special‑needs/disabled students in getting on and off the bus; may operate chair lift.
• Secures special‑needs students appropriately on the bus; lifts and places children into car seats as required; assists those in wheelchairs on and off the bus and while in transit.
• Assists ambulatory children to and from seats.
• Accompanies special‑needs students across street crossings and at various locations as required.
• Observes students to prevent interior bus destruction or other concerns.
• Works with certified staff members to understand specific needs of individual students if necessary.
• Cleans up body fluids and other messes that may occur on the bus.
• Assists the bus driver in maintaining good student conduct on the bus.
• Ensures that students get on and off the bus in an orderly fashion.
• Collects and turns over personal items left on the bus by students to school personnel.
• Assists driver in any emergency situation, including accidents or seizures.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Other Performance Measures

• Requires good people skills to deal with difficult situations, assist disabled passengers, and be sensitive to special needs; controls unruly passengers effectively and resolves problems with parents.
• Follows safety guidelines and policies, including the Exposure Control Plan for bloodborne pathogens, ensuring passengers are transported safely without harm to property or equipment.
• Adheres to the school dress standard, punctuality, dependability, and other district requirements.
• Demonstrates creativity, initiative, and effective problem‑solving to prevent and resolve problems.
• Enjoys working with children, especially sensitive to the needs of disabled children.

Physical / Mental Requirements and Working Conditions

• Employee sits 4–6 hours per day; stands/walks 1–2 hours per day.
• Frequent bending/stooping; squatting/crouching; reaching above shoulders; pushing/pulling.
• Frequent carrying/lifting of up to 35 pounds, occasionally up to 50 pounds, when assisting non‑wheelchair passengers into seats (driver may assist if weight exceeds 50 pounds).
• Requires both hands for repetitive actions requiring a firm grasp or fine manipulation.
• Requires manual dexterity/mobility sufficient to maneuver children in wheelchairs and secure them while riding the bus.
• Requires sufficient vision to observe surroundings and ensure children are properly and safely seated.
• Requires sufficient hearing and speaking ability to communicate with driver, children, parents, and others.
• Knowledge of safety procedures for special‑needs children; learns each child’s special needs and discipline handling methods.
• Works outdoors with temperature changes; exposure to bodily fluids, dust, non‑air‑conditioned buses, etc.
• Requires patience and ability to care for both disabled and non‑disabled children.

Terms of Employment

Length of the work year and hours of employment shall be those established by the District (175‑day contract).

FLSA Status

Non‑Exempt