Job Description:

Transportation Special Needs Bus Assistant

Reports To:

Transportation Director

Dept/School:

Transportation

Employment:

Part-time position; work 10 months/on the days that children attend school; no benefits; hourly rate set by the Board of Education

Calendar:

10 months / 200 days

Salary Grade:

9 (Classified scale)

Date Revised:

8/25/2025

Qualifications:

HS Diploma or equivalent

Tennessee Driver's license

Effectively communicate with students and staff

Maintain accurate records

TBI/FBI background check is required

DCS background check is required

Pre-employment physical is required

Pre-employment and random drug testing required

CPR and First Aid training

Annual MVR

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Responsible for assisting special education and pre-school students while they are being transported to/from school and/or other related school activities in order to assure safe and orderly environment. Ability to drive to various locations for daily assignments.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:

Part-time position; work 10 months/on the days that children attend school; no benefits; hourly rate set by the Board of Education

DEFINITION: The bus assistant is responsible for assisting special education and pre-school students in boarding and exiting special education school buses and to provide safety while being transported on the bus. Employees in this area work 5 days a week, 4-5 hours a day depending on how long the bus route takes per day. The bus attendant reports directly to the Transportation Coordinator. This person must have a happy, helpful attitude; be punctual and dependable and follow directions. This person must be able to work cooperatively with the school bus driver and children. The person in this position must protect the confidentiality rights of parents and special education children. This person must model appropriate grammar usage and support safety and good self-esteem in children. Experience with groups of children and special needs children will be helpful but not required. All new employees will be subject to a pre-employment physical examination with a written statement from the physician showing a satisfactory health record stating the employee is free of any contagious or communicable disease in such form as might endanger the health of school children, as well as result as results of a TB skin test

EQUIPMENT AND JOB LOCATION:

1. The employee in this position will work on school bus routes.
2. The employee will be exposed to extreme temperatures, inclement weather, smells associated with children with special needs, and may be exposed to bodily fluids and therefore, need to use universal precautions.

Performance Responsibilities and Essential Functions:

1. Must assist, support, and receive direction from the school bus driver while on the bus in the

day-to-day operations of Pupil Transportation.

2. Assist special education students boarding and exiting the bus.

3. Report any medical issues the student may be having to the driver.

4. Assist in establishing a safe and orderly bus environment.

5. Help secure wheelchairs and other special seating for special needs students when riding a

special needs bus.

6. Continuously observe students during transit to make sure that they remain seated and in a safe

position on the bus, assist with student management and medical needs as needed.

7. Talk with students regarding bus safety on the bus in order to maintain order throughout the trip.

8. Discuss with the bus driver and help determine how to handle individual student situations.

9. Receive advice from the school administration and provide feedback when needed.

10. Build positive relationships with students, parents, bus drivers ,and other school district staff.

11. Develop and apply knowledge of Bus Conduct and Discipline procedures for the school system.

12. Maintain confidentiality of student information and bus issues.

13. Attend all in-services necessary for the job.

14. Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Transportation/ Director of Schools.

Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors: Light work load

Tools/Equipment Used:

Standard office equipment including computer and peripherals; standard instructional equipment; other specialized and adaptive equipment used by students

Posture:

Frequent standing; kneeling/squatting, bending/stooping, pushing/pulling, and twisting

Motion:

Frequent walking and reaching

Lifting:

Frequent light lifting and carrying (less than 15 pounds); Occasional heavy lifting (45 pounds or over) and positioning or students with physical disabilities, controlling behavior through physical restraint, assisting nonambulatory students, and lifting and moving adaptive and other classroom equipment

Environment:

Work inside and outside (exposure to sun, heat, cold, and inclement weather); exposure to noise; exposure to biological hazards (bacteria, communicable diseases)

Mental Demands:

Work with frequent interruptions; maintain emotional control under stress

Notes:

The duties outlined are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or is a logical assignment for this classification.