Routing Specialist

Primary Purpose:

Schedules and coordinates field trips to ensure safe, on-time service to and from field trip destinations. Uploads pupil information from the district's student data base and creates the most efficient and cost effective route(s) per the needs of the District. Creates, provides, and maintains school maps indicating school and district boundaries. Updates and maintains various school transportation routing maps and bus routes/schedules. Effectively facilitates and manages the flow of information pertaining to pupil data as needed. Maintains data required for TEA Route Service Report to include ridership, route descriptions and units utilized. Maintains the highest level of professional communication with campus administrators, fellow employees and our community.

Education / Certification:

• High School Diploma or GED.
• CDL License w / P&S endorsements is preferred with an acceptable motor vehicle record as determined by the Department of Transportation and the Texas Education agency. Motor vehicle records will be reviewed annually to ensure compliance with DOT and TEA standards.
• Certified or willing to obtain certification by the Texas Association of Pupil Transportation (TAPT) as a Pupil Transportation Official, Supervisor, Specialist or Trainer.

Special Knowledge / Skills:

• Must be able to complete all required training requirements within 60 days of employment.
• Possesses operational / functional knowledge of computerized routing systems (Infofinder preferred).
• Knowledge of demographic and transportation routing software (Route Finder preferred).
• Knowledgeable in adult training techniques and possesses a mechanical aptitude, and strong leadership skills.
• Ability to work effectively with campus principals, staff, students, and parents.
• Strong organizational skills and group presentation
• Excellent interpersonal skills and well developed written and verbal communication skills.
• Knowledge of and experience using word processing, database, and spreadsheet software.
• Basic math skills, detail orientation, mapping and routing skills.

Experience / Other Requirements:

• Two years of experience as a certified school bus driver is preferred.
• Experienced in coordinating new and revised bus routes and schedules.
• Personal cell phone is required to handle district related business, including after hours, or when away from the office on district business.
• Due to the nature of the position,. "On call" situations are to be expected.

Major Responsibilites and Duties:

Field Trips

• Inputs and tracks fieldtrips from school administration and coaching staff using an intranet based system.
• Assigns field trips to drivers, tracks, maintains and oversees all field trip buses.
• Coordinates and/or assists with extra-curricular transportation with coaching staff.
• Communicates and coordinates the use of personnel and equipment as well as all trip information to appropriate parties: drivers, campus, dispatch, sponsor, and other key personnel.
• Provides training on the usage of the field trip request system and processes.
• Communicates any problems or changes to appropriate parties: drivers, campus, dispatch, sponsor, and other key personnel.
• Reviews and explains field trip policies and procedures to all drivers as Encourages compliance with Comal ISD policies and processes. Discusses any breach of policy, problems or irregularities with the Area Supervisor.
• Maintains the intranet data base system insuring that each driver and trip is charged and billed accordingly (i.e. hours, mileage, fuel, ); as well as driver payroll and department revenue are reconciled accurately and in a timely manner.
• Gathers key information such as activity budget codes in order to bill accordingly.
• Cooperates with other members of the management team and operations staff to insure the continuation of a safe and smooth operation.
• Attends professional development activities/programs to keep abreast of developments and innovations in area of transportation.

Routing

• Maintains, creates, and implements safe, efficient, and effective bus route information on the computerized Transfinder Routing System. Continuously develops and maintains all bus routes, runs and stops; including kindergarten and all extra runs.
• Gathers and analyzes information regarding boundary constraints, adjustments, scheduling restrictions, and parent requests to develop Models the effects of route planning decisions on the computer and determines optimal bus runs and routes, eliminating routes as necessary.
• Answers questions from parents, the public and District staff concerning bus routing and scheduling and school boundaries.
• Produces and disseminates student ridership and eligibility reports as well as attendance boundary, bus stop and walk Assists with the maintenance of ridership and eligibility information for State transportation claims.
• Maintains records of Special Education students to be provided with special transportation.
• Develops necessary reports to inform supervisor, drivers, students and school staff of changes made to routes.
• Conducts predictive research on the transportation effects of proposed boundary and other types of changes and provides input to District staff.
• Determines student transportation eligibility, including hazardous walking areas. Receives and processes notices from parents requesting bus transportation for their student(s). Researches student mobility and new housing developments within District boundaries.
• Investigates and analyzes walkway and crosswalk conditions and obtains traffic speed and volume from cities and the county to complete Safety Hazard Finding Reviews School Board policies and District guidelines to tally hazard points. Findings are presented to the Transportation Director and hazards are mitigated through cities and county when possible.
• Maintains a control log for all routes showing times, routes available, Assists in the development and posting of all route packages for bid purposes.
• Assists the Director with the coordination of the collection of student transportation information for the completion of the annual Texas Education Agency report.
• Assists with the preparation and distribution of the driver log sheets and provides instructions to drivers on proper student counting procedures. Assists with the input of bus driver data and special education routes into Transfinder and calculates number of students using buses for reimbursement by the Assists with the verification of that data and corrects coding of data as necessary to ensure accuracy.
• Ensures accuracy of the District''s geographic street Enters, calibrates, and maintains map latitude and longitude data for school locations, house ranges, street signs, and other pertinent information.
• Performs uploads and downloads between student information system and Transfinder database; maintains data backup for Transfinder database. Provides training for other transportation office staff on use of Transfinder software. Troubleshoots Transfinder software problems and may serve as a resource person to other districts regarding Transfinder software.
• Provides daily work direction for others assigned to support route-planning activities.
• Provides back-up assistance to Transportation office; answers the phone; operates two-way Performs Bus Driver, Driver Trainer and Dispatching duties as needed.
• Responsible for properly maintaining district records, adhering to all policies set forth by the district for records maintenance and learning the records retention schedule for department records.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilites:

None.

Working Conditions:

The physical demands described here 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.

• Work with frequent interruptions.
• Maintain emotional control under stress.
• Repetitive hand motions.
• Prolonged use of computer.
• Limited in-district travel.
• Conditions include operating in inclement weather, heat and humidity (most buses are not air conditioned), enduring a bumpy ride, and exposure to possible injury due to traffic accidents.
• Continual walking (to, inside, and around bus), sitting, standing, squatting, stretching, bending, kneeling, stooping, twisting, turning, climbing bus steps, pushing, pulling, carrying, reaching, repetitive hand and arm motions (steering, driving, shifting), lifting (45 lbs or more), talking (announcing streets, talking on radio), seeing (traffic lights, inspections, passengers, stopped vehicles, traffic conditions), hearing (traffic sounds, emergency vehicles, passengers, radio, mechanical problems).
• Must be physically able to climb in and out of the school bus emergency doors to evacuate the bus in an emergency.
• There is a considerable exposure to dust, traffic fumes, and high noise level from both outside traffic as well as from passengers.
• Maintain emotional control under stress; may occasionally work with students with disabilities and/or screaming children and may occasionally deal with life threatening emergencies.