School Bus Driver

JOB

DESCRIPTION

School

Bus

Driver

GENERAL

INFORMATION

Title:

School

Bus

Driver

Union

Status:

DTU

Department:

Transportation

Work

Year:

Based

on

Official

School

Calendar

Location:

Palatine

CCSD

15

Reports

To:

Director

of

Transportation

or

Designee

ISBE

Classification/Code:

530

Evaluation:

Annually

by

May

15

FLSA

Status:

Non-Exempt

Supervisory

Responsibilities:

None

Salary:

$26.22/Hour

Benefits

Benefits

Contract

GENERAL

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Position

is

responsible

for

operating

a

school

bus

and

transporting

school-aged

children

and

other

authorized

personnel

safely

and

efficiently

over

specified

routes

to

and

from

schools

and

various

activities.

Position

conducts

pre-trip

inspections;

observes

safety

regulations

and

policies;

enforces

student

discipline

on

the

bus;

and

performs

related

work.

• Work

Year

• for

those

who

choose

an

out

of

district

route,

drivers

are

required

to

work

during

D15

student

attendance

days

plus

additional

days

if/when

out

of

district

schools

are

in

attendance.

ESSENTIAL

FUNCTIONS:

Communicates

with

dispatcher

or

Transportation

Director

for

any

changes

in

normal

duties

or

new

student

passengers,

including

communicating

orally

while

the

bus

is

in

motion,

when

needed,

using

two-way

radio.

Ensures

the

bus

can

be

operated

safely

before

driving

and

conducts

pre-trip

safety

inspections

as

required

by

federal

and

state

laws

to

include

observing

visual

defects

and

checking

operating

systems

to

include

brakes,

horn,

lights,

emergency

flashers,

extended

stop

arms,

and

door-opening

devices

Operates

the

vehicle

safely

over

an

assigned

route,

picking

up

and

delivering

only

authorized

students

at

assigned

bus

stops,

and

watches

to

ensure

that

no

one

hurrying

for

the

bus

is

left

behind

Keeps

assigned

time

schedules,

which

may

require

driving

during

pre-day

light

and

dusk

periods,

and

makes

every

effort

to

be

on

time

while

ensuring

safety

Obeys

all

traffic

laws

and

transportation

practices

as

outlined

in

the

CDL

manual,

Bus

Driver

Handbook,

School

Board

Policy

and

local

ordinances

Observes

all

mandatory

safety

regulations

for

school

buses

and

keeps

all

emergency

exits

clear

of

obstructions

Remains

on

a

school

bus

at

all

times

while

children

are

on

board,

unless

there

is

another

adult

supervisor

present

on

the

bus.

Exception

to

this

is

when

operating

a

wheelchair

lift;

any

other

times

with

permission

from

dispatch/transportation

office

by

radio

Secures

and

installs

wheelchairs,

car

seats,

and

other

safety

devices

on

the

bus

as

needed

After

securing

a

safe

location,

at

the

end

of

each

route

and

before

leaving

the

vehicle,

walk

the

bus

to

check

for

students

left

on

the

bus.

Leaving

children

unattended

on

a

bus

may

result

in

Class

II

Felony

Maintains

student

discipline

on

the

bus

and

enforces

rules

governing

student

conduct,

including

through

oral

communication

when

the

bus

is

in

motion

Reports

undisciplined

students

to

the

proper

authority

and

compiles

written

reports

as

requested

in

accordance

with

the

District

Transportation

Employee

Handbook

and

the

D15

Student

Handbook

Conducts

annual

bus

evacuation

drills

as

required

by

the

State

of

Illinois

and

implements

evacuations

as

required

in

an

emergency

to

include

safely

exiting

from

the

rear

of

the

school

bus

Reports

all

accidents

immediately,

via

radio

to

dispatch,

requesting

police

or

ambulance

service

as

needed;

assists

injured

persons

until

services

arrive;

and

completes

required

accident

reports

Reports

all

moving

violations

and

citations

(including

those

received

when

driving

a

personal

vehicle)

to

the

Director

of

Transportation

within

seventy-two

(72)

hours

of

receiving

notice

of

violation

and/or

citation,

as

required

by

federal

law

JOB

DESCRIPTION

School

Bus

Driver

Notifies

dispatch

immediately

in

cases

of

mechanical

failure,

safety

deficiencies,

when

off

schedule,

or

to

report

other

incidents

Regulates

heating,

cooling,

and

ventilating

equipment

provided

on

buses

for

the

comfort

of

passengers.

Drives

students

and

teachers

on

field

trips,

extracurricular

activities,

and

other

special

events,

which

may

include

evenings,

if

assigned

Exercises

responsible

leadership

and

appropriate

behavior

when

on

duty

Is

met

at

the

bus

stop

by

parents/authorized

designee

of

pre-kindergarten

(ECDEC)

through

kindergarten

student

riders.

For

other

ages,

as

indicated

on

the

route

sheet.

Permits

no

unauthorized

adult(s)

on

the

bus

without

permission.

Permits

no

unauthorized

adult(s)

on

the

bus

without

permission

Returns

the

bus

to

the

assigned

bus

lot,

performs

a

final

inspection,

and

secures

the

bus

according

to

procedures.

Aides

may

not

be

picked

up

or

dropped

off

at

any

location

other

than

the

bus

parking

spot

Performs

light

cleaning

duties

on

their

bus

including

daily

sweeping

of

floor,

emptying

of

garbage,

disinfection

as

required,

and

weekly

dusting

of

the

dash.

Fuels

their

buses

to

maintain

an

adequate

fuel

supply

Participates

in

all

required

training.

Is

responsible

for

keeping

their

CDL

and

School

Bus

Permit

current,

including

two-hour

safety

refresher

class

as

mandated

by

the

Illinois

Secretary

of

State

Submits

to

drug

testing

when

required

by

law,

administrative

request,

or

random

testing

Communicates

effectively

and

positively

with

parents,

students,

staff

and

co-workers

Models

non

discriminatory

practices

in

all

activities

Immediately

reports

both

major

bus

defects

and

minor

repairs

(such

as

a

torn

seat

cover)

by

submitting

a

bus

write-up

form

to

the

mechanics

Some

assignments

may

require

"CPR"

training,

which

will

be

provided

(These

are

intended

only

as

illustrations

of

the

various

types

of

work

performed.

The

omission

of

specific

duties

does

not

exclude

them

from

the

position

if

the

work

is

similar,

related,

or

a

logical

assignment

to

the

position.)

Other

Duties

Keep

the

assigned

bus

clean

Maintains

an

up

to

date

assigned

seating

chart

Reports

all

safety

violations

to

include

co-workers/personnel

suspected

of

drinking

alcohol

or

being

under

the

influence

of

drugs

(to

include

over-the-counter

drugs)

while

working.

Performs

any

other

related

duties

as

assigned

by

the

Transportation

Supervisor

or

other

appropriate

administrator.

JOB

REQUIREMENTS:

MINIMUM

QUALIFICATIONS

To

perform

this

job

successfully,

an

individual

must

be

able

to

perform

each

essential

duty

satisfactorily.

The

requirements

listed

below

are

representative

of

the

knowledge,

skill

and/or

ability

required.

Reasonable

accommodation

may

be

made

to

enable

individuals

with

disabilities,

who

are

otherwise

qualified,

to

perform

the

essential

functions.

Minimum

Qualifications

(Knowledge,

Skills

and/or

Abilities

Required)

Must

possess

knowledge

of,

or

the

ability

to

accurately

and

quickly

learn

local

street

and

road

systems.

Must

possess

knowledge

of,

or

the

ability

to

accurately

and

quickly

learn,

how

to

properly

secure

a

wheelchair,

car

seat,

and

other

safety

devices

on

a

school

bus.

Must

possess

the

ability

to

maintain

student

discipline

and

ensure

that

student

behavior

is

not

a

distraction

to

safe

driving.

Must

possess

the

ability

to

recognize

and

report

any

unsafe

act

or

condition.

Must

be

and

remain

in

compliance

with

State/District

regulations

regarding

the

use

of

controlled

substances

and

alcohol

as

applied

to

school

bus

drivers.

Must

meet

and

maintain

the

mandated

physical

and

mental

requirements

established

by

the

State

and

the

JOB

DESCRIPTION

School

Bus

Driver

US

Department

of

Transportation.

The

school

district

may

not

employ

individuals

who

do

not

meet

these

standards.

Must

be

capable

of

working

independently

and

possess

the

ability

to

understand

and

follow

through

on

oral

and

written

instructions.

Must

possess

the

ability

to

communicate

effectively

and

positively

with

students,

parents,

staff,

and

co-workers.

Is

able

to

drive

all

types

of

District

15

vehicles.

Special

Education

Driver:

1.

Operate

lift

to

board

and

discharge

special

needs

passenger(s).

2.

Be

physically

capable

to

load/unload

passengers.

3.

Responsible

for

the

proper

securing

of

wheelchairs,

harnesses,

seatbelts,

car

seats

and

booster

seats.

4.

Responsible

for

collaboration

with

any

bus

aide

assigned

to

their

route.

Sub

Driver/Occasional

Sub :

1.

Is

available

for

all

assignments

including

routes,

trips

and

miscellaneous

duties

during

scheduled

time

periods.

2.

Is

able

to

drive

all

District

vehicles

and

routes.

EDUCATION,

CREDENTIALING

and/or

EXPERIENCE:

High

school

diploma

or

GED

and

be

21

years

of

age

or

older.

Valid

and

properly

classified

driver's

license

issued

by

the

Secretary

of

State

of

Illinois

for

three

years

immediately

prior

to

the

date

of

application,

or

a

valid

and

properly

classified

license

issued

in

the

driver's

home

state.

Valid

Commercial

Driver's

License

to

operate

a

school

bus

or

must

acquire

one

prior

to

the

completion

of

the

District's

training

course.

Thorough

knowledge

of

procedures

and

federal/state

laws

governing

the

safe

operation

of

a

school

bus

prior

to

the

completion

of

the

District's

course.

Successful

completion

and

testing

for

an

air

brake

endorsement

must

be

completed

within

9

months

of

hire.

Physical

Demands

and

Work

Environment:

The

physical

demands

and

work

environment

described

below

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.

Duties

are

performed

on

and

around

a

school

bus.

Frequent

exposure

to

loud

noise

levels;

fumes

or

airborne

particles;

noxious

odors;

vibrations

from

driving

a

bus;

and

traffic.

Occasional

exposure

to

moving

mechanical

parts.

Occasional

exposure

to

all

outside

weather

conditions.

Employees

are

frequently

required

to

sit;

use

hands

to

handle,

or

feel;

use

foot

controls

to

drive;

reach

with

hand

and

arms;

push

and

pull,

climb,

bend,

stoop,

and

kneel;

and

talk

and

hear.

Specific

vision

abilities

required

include

close,

distance,

night/dusk,

color,

and

peripheral

vision.

Position

requires

the

lifting/pushing/pulling

of

up

to

50

pounds.

Employees

will

have

contact

with

the

public

which

requires

appropriate

demeanor

and

apparel.

Reviewed/Revised:

March,

2023

• Salary

and

Benefits

Updated

7/2026

The

statements

in

this

job

description

are

intended

to

describe

the

general

nature

and

level

of

the

work

to

be

performed

by

(an)

individual(s)

assigned

to

this

position.

They

are

not

an

exhaustive

list

of

all

duties

and

JOB

DESCRIPTION

School

Bus

Driver

responsibilities

related

to

the

position.

This

job

description

will

be

reviewed

periodically

as

duties

and

responsibilities

change

with

the

business

necessity

and

School

Board

Policy

and

procedures.

Essential

and

marginal

job

functions

are

subject

to

modification.