Full-Time Bus Driver

Emmett Independent School District 221; Emmett Charter Township (MI); On-site; USD 25,000 - 36,000; Part time

Job summary

Emmett Independent School District 221 is seeking a School Bus Driver to operate a 40-foot school bus on urban and rural routes. The driver will perform pre-trip/post-trip inspections, manage student behavior, and maintain logs as part of daily responsibilities.

Qualifications include a Class B CDL with P and S endorsements, a valid DOT Medical Card, and a clean driving record. The role requires adherence to SISBO regulations and district policies, with training and performance evaluations

Qualifications

• Must possess a valid Class B CDL with Passenger (P) and School Bus (S) endorsements
• DOT Medical Card required and clean driving record
• Familiarity with SISBO and state bus regulations
• Ability to climb stairs and manually handle lifting tasks (30 lbs)

Responsibilities

• Safely operates a 40-foot school bus on urban and rural routes under all weather conditions
• Performs daily pre-trip and post-trip inspections and ensures no safety defects
• Conducts routine student management and enforces behavioral expectations on the bus
• Keeps accurate logs, communicates with dispatch, and adheres to route schedules
• Participates in required training and annual professional development

Skills

Dependability

Patience

Professionalism

Communication

Education

Class B CDL with P & S endorsements

Job description

Job Contact Phone:: [phone] Minimum Starting Salary:: $22.22

Position Plan: School Bus Driver

Classification: Classified-Hourly

Employment Period: School Days (Approximately 168–170 Days including Required Training Days)

Schedule: Split Shift (Typically 6:00 AM – 8:30 AM & 2:30 PM – 5:00 PM, with adjustments as needed for particular routes

Reporting Structure: Reports directly and administratively to the Transportation Director. Takes daily and operational direction from the Training Staff including driving and safety evaluations. The Dispatcher provides daily scheduling changes or updates.

I. Position Purpose & Cultural Alignment

School Bus Drivers are the front-line guardians of student safety and the daily baseline for our Bus Shop Culture. Driving a route for Emmett School District requires absolute dependability, an unshakeable commitment to student well-being, and a professional, kind demeanor. Drivers set the tone for a student's entire school day and are directly accountable for maintaining regulatory compliance, driving efficiency, and a positive environment on their buses.

• Core Attributes: Must be highly dependable, patient, professional, and possess excellent communication skills to interact positively with students, parents, and school staff.
• Commercial Licensing: Must possess and maintain a valid Class B Commercial Driver's License (CDL) with Passenger (P) and School Bus (S) endorsements, a current DOT Medical Card, and a clean driving record.
• Compliance & Knowledge: Must maintain a valid Class B Commercial Driver's License (CDL) with Passenger (P) and School Bus (S) endorsements, DOT Medical Card, and master the State Department of Education regulations including SISBO and the bus driver training curriculum, district policies, and student management protocols.
• Must be able to climb up and down school bus stairs, lift 30 lbs from the emergency exit door to the ground, drag 125 lbs the length of the bus aisle using proper lifting techniques.

III. Core Roles & Responsibilities

1. Student Safety & Defensive Driving

• Safe Operations: Safely operates a 40-foot commercial motor vehicle School Bus across urban and rural district routes in all weather conditions, practicing flawless defensive driving techniques. Some drivers will also be asked to operate a Special Needs, smaller school bus with wheelchair ramps and tie-downs.
• Pre-Trip & Post-Trip Inspections: Conducts rigorous, documented pre-trip and post-trip safety inspections daily to identify mechanical issues, checking fluid levels, brakes, tires, and lights to ensure zero defects before hitting the road.
• Post-Route Child Checks: Executes mandatory visual and physical checks of the entire interior of the bus at the immediate conclusion of every route to ensure no student is left behind.

2. Student Management & Culture Building

• Bus Environment: Establishes clear, consistent, and kind behavioral expectations for students on the bus, promoting a culture of mutual respect and safety.
• Special Needs Accommodations: Collaborates with and provides precise direction to Special Needs Bus Attendants to guarantee the proper securement and care of all students with specialized transportation plans.
• Positive Correction: Addresses student misbehavior directly and professionally. Unresolved or severe disciplinary infractions must be documented via formal student conduct reports submitted promptly to school administrators and the Director. A journal entry shall be made each school day by the driver.

3. Performance Assessments & Compliance Rubrics

Drivers will be evaluated regularly by the Lead Trainer and Driver Trainer using the Idaho State Department of Education (SDE) rubric, focusing heavily on SISBO & CLD legal requirements & criteria:

• Ride-Along Evaluations: Participates in unexpected and scheduled ride-along evaluations conducted by the training team to audit speed management, railroad crossing procedures, mirror checks, traffic management, braking, and student loading & unloading execution, along with all State of Idaho evaluation criteria.
• Video Audits & Coaching: Participates in mandatory, individual video review sessions with trainers. These sessions analyze onboard camera footage to evaluate driver blind-spot checks, student loading control, defensive driving compliance, and student management practices.
• Continuous Improvement: Must actively participate in the state-mandated 10 hours of annual professional development days organized by the training team.
• Accountability Escalation: Infractions identified during audits will lead to immediate corrective training. Continued non-compliance triggers a joint "Coaching for Success" plan with the training team and the Director, escalating to formal disciplinary action if uncorrected.

4. Schedule Adherence & Financial Efficiency

• Punctuality:Driver arrives for work and departs the bus shop at designated start/end times. While on paid time but not actively driving, driver shall engage in constructive work related activities such as studying law/SISBO, reviewing bus video to observe student behaviors not noticeable in the driver's seat, contact parents or teachers, maintain bus cleanliness, or other duties as assigned. Adheres strictly to designated route timelines and sequential route notes, ensuring students are picked up and dropped off safely and reliably at scheduled stops.
• Route Asset Management: Maintains accurate daily pre-trip logs, fuel consumption records, and student ridership counts to keep district data flawless. If route times or students names need to be updated, they should be made in a timely manner with the dispatcher. All student seating charts, labels, and assignments should be kept up-to-date.
• Idling Reduction: Minimizes bus idling time in accordance with district efficiency policies to preserve fuel and control operational costs across active route, training, and sub buses.

5. Field Flexibility & Emergency Readiness

• Route Adjustments: Reports immediately to the Dispatcher regarding delays, mechanical defects during route, or route obstructions to allow for real-time fleet adjustments. At no time shall a bus perform a backing maneuver that is not School District Board approved without the prior consent of the Dispatcher or Director.
• Emergency Execution: Executes emergency evacuation drills twice per year for all route students and remains fully prepared to handle medical or environmental crises according to district emergency management protocols.

6. Employment Condition's

• Fit For Duty Demonstration: This position may, at the Emmett School District's discretion, be required to demonstrate their ability to perform essential physical attributes of this role, including but not limited to lifting 30 lbs from the emergency exit of a school bus, drag 125 lbs from the front of the bus to the rear emergency exit area, climb and descend the bus stairs several times repeatedly.
• Consent to Initial and On-Going Random Drug Testing:Each applicant must pass a drug test prior to first contact with students or driving. Random drug tests where employees are selected through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and results are reported nationally.
• Background Check: Employee must pass a background check executed through the Emmett School District Office.

These outlined job responsibilities are illustrative and not exhaustive list of anything that may be asked of the employee.