Austin Achieve Public Schools is a tuition-free, open-enrollment public charter school preparing East Austin youth to attend and excel at the nation’s top colleges and universities. Bus drivers play an essential role in safely and efficiently transporting students and other authorized personnel to and from school or other designated locations.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Provide safe transportation for all students by having “0” preventable incidents/accidents.
- Drive a school bus safely in accordance with time schedules; transporting students to and from their homes, a variety of school sites, and on field trips as assigned.
- Observe all traffic laws and safety regulations for school buses.
- Maintain order and proper discipline of passengers; resolving disputes, documenting and reporting severe disciplinary cases.
- Conduct established safety and operational inspection of assigned vehicle daily.
- Perform pre- and post-trip inspections according to specifications to ensure bus can be operated safely and notify supervisor of needed repairs.
- Operate and monitor two-way radio equipment to communicate with the Department of Transportation and other drivers.
- Report all accidents, vehicle damage, student injuries, and mechanical failure problems and complete required documentation.
- Report any hazardous conditions along the scheduled route.
- Promote positive student conduct and manage student behavior.
- Instruct students on safe entering, exiting, and riding passenger rules and regulations.
- Supervise students while they are on board.
- Maintain discipline and use effective behavior management control over groups of students.
- Understand the basics of transporting students.
- Oversee the loading and unloading of students, releasing students to an authorized individual, and assure that safety belts are fastened in passenger vans.
- Maintain a variety of records and reports including but not limited to mileage, routing, maintenance, time schedules, and the number of passengers transported.
- Promptly notify appropriate individuals of any delays in scheduled route.
- Ensure to always have proper credentials updated accordingly to DOT and Austin Achieve Public Schools policy.
- Keep your assigned bus clean and maintain an appropriate level of fuel.
- Perform emergency evacuation of students on the bus when situation warrants.
- Ensure proper condition of emergency equipment, such as first aid kit, fire extinguisher, flags, fuses, crowbar, and reflector.
- Correct unsafe conditions in the work area and promptly report conditions that are not immediately correctable to the supervisor.
- Support driver recruitment efforts.
Competencies:
- Predictable and regular attendance.
- Committed to providing excellent customer service.
- Must be able to understand and take directions and feedback well.
- Able to accept negative and positive feedback.
- Able to self-reflect on own performance to improve the operation.
- Must manage multiple tasks by prioritizing work.
- Needs to adapt to changing circumstances while performing various tasks.
- Handle various tasks simultaneously within established time constraints.
- Be able to work on an open calendar.
- Able to work on evenings, weekends, holidays, etc.
- Expected to work 30 hours per week – Not including Extra Curricular Activities assigned by campus.
- Able to work extended hours when necessary to meet business needs.
- Maintain emotional control under stress.
Qualifications:
- Valid Texas driver’s license (A or B CDL) with passenger/school bus endorsements.
- Ability to complete required bus driver safety training and bus driver certification from TEA.
- Safe driving record verified by Texas Department of Public Safety (meets and maintains liability coverage eligibility).
- Shall be subject to random testing for alcohol or controlled substance that violates the law or federal regulations.
- Candidate must have a satisfactory outcome of fingerprinting background check. Non-refundable fee (approximately $50) paid by the employee.
Physical Demands/Mental Demands/Environmental Factors:
The working conditions described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and expectations.
- Continual sitting, reaching, and repetitive hand and arm motions; work outside and inside; moderate exposure to extreme temperature (hot) and vehicle fumes.
- Exposure to dampness and humidity, toxic chemicals, exhaust fumes, gasoline, and diesel fuel.
- Regularly lift and/or move up to 75 pounds; occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and peripheral vision.