Pupil Transportation Administrative Staff

State of Ohio; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 52,000 - 74,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Coverage

Paid time off

Job summary

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce is seeking an Administrative Staff member to support the Office of Pupil Transportation in planning, directing, and coordinating operations and ensuring compliance with state and federal rules. You will work with districts, schools, and vendors to implement transportation policies and reporting requirements.

This role involves providing technical support on DRIVES reporting, coordinating with stakeholders, and delivering instructional materials to

Qualifications

• 8 years experience in school transportation supervision or 8 years experience as a school bus driver trainer or a combination of these.
• Preferred but not required: have or previously held a CDL with School Bus (S) and Passenger (P) endorsements.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Administrative Staff under the direction of the Administrator of the Office of Pupil Transportation to assist planning, direction, and coordination of the Office of Pupil Transportation operations.
• Develop and implement policies for pupil transportation programs across districts, DD boards, Head Start, and schools.
• Provide technical support to ensure compliance with pupil transportation laws, rules, and DRIVES reporting platform.
• Prepare and present instructional materials to stakeholder groups and at conferences to facilitate transportation data reporting and safety.

Skills

Administrative Support/Services

Job description

Organization

Education and Workforce

Work Location

25 S. Front St.
Columbus, Ohio, 43215
United States

Compensation

46.00

Schedule

Permanent - Full Time

Work Hours

Flexible

Classified Indicator

Unclassified

Union

Exempt from union

Primary Job Skill

Administrative Support/Services

Who We Are

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce is a diverse team of passionate, education-focused professionals responsible for overseeing and enhancing the quality of education for each of Ohio’s 1.7 million students. The Department provides the resources and supports essential to raising student achievement and accelerating learning opportunities, advancing the connectivity between K-12 and postsecondary learning, creating programs to support and expand workforce experiences, and ensuring students have the necessary supports to be ready each day to learn.

As the governing body responsible for overseeing and enhancing the quality of education within the State of Ohio, the Department of Education and Workforce is dedicated to promoting educational excellence and ensuring equal access to learning opportunities for all students. The Department is committed to collaborating with schools, districts, educators, students, families, businesses, nonprofits and all stakeholders to achieve our educational goals.

What You'll Do

This position will serve as Administrative Staff under the direction of the Administrator of the Office of Pupil Transportation to assist planning, direction, and coordination the operations of the Office of Pupil Transportation and to ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.

Serves as agency administrative staff for school districts, Developmental Disabilities boards, Head Start, community schools, nonpublic schools, & private vendors by developing & implementing policies for pupil transportation programs;

• Provides technical support to ensure public compliance with all aspects of pupil transportation (e.g., pupil transportation law and rules [e.g., ORC, OAC, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Rules]);


• Provides technical support in the use of DEW reporting platform (DRIVES) (T1, T2, T8, T9, T10 reports, and school bus and driver records);


• Serves as technical resource for school transporters in compliance with laws and rules for special education transportation;


• Supports school transportation providers and districts through consultation, leadership, and onsite review with regard to best practices & procedures required to provide appropriate, safe, compliant, & efficient pupil transportation;


• Reviews district foundation payment programs for transportation funding (e.g., DRIVES data collection design, data management practices, ensuring compliance with ORC & OAC);


• Works with stakeholders (e.g., Ohio Association for Pupil Transportation, school administrators & other governmental agencies) to manage the DEW transportation and funding program for pupil transporta-tion;


• Works with other DEW agency program offices to provide technical assistance and ensure compliance with fiscal reporting procedures;


• Responds to inquiries from stakeholders (e.g., parents, legislators, school officials, other state employees, & industry organizations);


• Generates and analyzes data reports related to pupil transportation as needed; and


• Prepares & presents instructional materials throughout the state to stakeholder groups & at conferences to facilitate the ability to prepare & submit transportation data reports, effectively and efficiently man-age local transportation operations, & promote effective & efficient pupil transportation safety at the local level.

Manages and acts as primary Department liaison to school bus driver preserve-ice trainers:

• Directs and coordinates school bus driver preservice team and their work;


• Assists school bus driver preservice team with creating, approving, and reviewing school bus driver training curriculum, class/syllabus, and projects;


• Meets at least monthly with preservice team to address updates, questions, planning, and concerns;


• Attends and assists with planning and coordination of statewide professional development, advanced classes, and state/national ROAD-E-O; and


• Keeps preservice team abreast of student transportation news and updates;

Provides necessary recommendations on changes to Ohio law, policy, and procedures:

• Collaborates with Administrator, Legal Counsel, and Legislative Policy team to recommend revised code and rule changes for the betterment of student transportation;


• Collaborates with Administrator, Legal Counsel, and Legislative Policy team to review and make recommended changes to Ohio Administrative Code to meet five-year rule review period; and


• Provides suggested changes to existing policies and procedures to ensure alignment with Ohio law and agency practices and to improve Office efficiencies.

Provides technical assistance to school transportation providers (i.e., districts, private vendors, community schools, and nonpublic schools) and implements site visits as needed to ensure compliance with Ohio pupil transportation law and rules:

• Provides support for financial, compliance, & service reviews of transportation operations under the jurisdiction of the agency (e.g., reviews financial documents & management, safety compliance, & effective transportation);


• Conducts on-site or desk reviews and performs fieldwork; and


• Drafts final report and recommendations for reviews and site visits.

Supports the Administrator in implementing ORC 3327.021, transportation enforcement program investigations:

• At the direction of the Administrator, coordinates with the Office’s legal counsel on enforcement issues;


• Supervises lead investigator(s);


• Works with lead investigator(s) to draft agency investigation reports and determination letters;


• Tracks and follows up on Corrective Action Plans as at the direction of the Administrator; and


• Works with the lead investigator(s) to ensure investigations are completed within the statutory timeframe.

Supports the lead agency Administrator in implementing the transportation pilot program:

• Supports the Administrator in conducting quarterly meetings with ESC pilot staff;


• Completes initial reviews of ESC pilot program financial reports and expenditures to ensure expenditures are allowable; and


• Prepares draft agency pilot program evaluation report for review and approval by the Administrator.

Performs other related duties and projects as assigned to support office, section, or agency needs.

Unusual Working Conditions: Requires travel throughout the State of Ohio & may require overnight stay (Must be willing & able to secure a valid driver’s license and supply your own transportation).

The work location of this position is 25 South Front Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215. You will be required to report to this work location full-time, if selected.

If this position is filled with an internal employee who has an approved telework agreement, the employee may be required to report in-person during the initial training period.

Experience Requirements

• PhD Core Program in Relevant Area – 4 Years of Experience


• Masters/Graduate Core Program in Relevant Area – 3 Years of Experience


• Bachelors/Undergraduate Core Program in Relevant Area – 2 Years of Experience


• Associate Core Program in Relevant Area – 1 Year of Experience

*Only the highest level is counted towards experience. Example if you have a Masters and Bachelors in a relevant area, it will count as 3 years of experience as opposed to 5 years of experience.

Only For Unclassified Positions: The final applicant for this position will be required to submit urinalysis to test for illegal drug use prior to an appointment. The State will decline to extend a final offer of employment to any applicant with a verified positive test result. Also, an applicant with a positive test result will not be considered for any position with the State of Ohio for a period of one year.

Why Work for the State of Ohio

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage


• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period


• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year


• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave


• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)


• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

Qualifications

8 years experience in school transportation supervision or 8 years experience as a school bus driver trainer or a combination of these.

Preferred but not required: have or previously held a CDL with School Bus (S) and Passenger (P) endorsements.

ADA Statement

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

Drug-Free Workplace

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.