Bus Monitor

JOB OBJECTIVES: Assist school bus driver in maintaining discipline while bus is in operation; maintain proper records and documentation; assist with student loading, unloading and seating arrangements as required.
POSITION OVERVIEW: Bus monitors provide support to the bus driver and assure a safe and orderly ride. They assist students with seating and safe storage of items. They provide direction to the students both during routine activities and during emergencies. Bus monitors are responsible for overall student safety, and, are to report behavioral issues to the building principals in a timely manner.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
General

1. Follow all established policies, practices, and procedures in terms of duties and responsibilities of the position as delegated by the Director of Transportation.
2. Enjoy working with children of all ages and be sensitive to their needs.
3. Able to understand and have empathy for students of all ages.
4. Must establish and maintain effective communication with those contacted in the course of work.
5. Maintain a cooperative, harmonious relationship with professionals and others within the school setting which fosters recognition and respect for every individual.
6. Perform such tasks as the supervisor may request in order to promote cooperative team work.
7. Employee will follow all health and safety rules, policies and procedures.
8. Perform duties according to the district's safety and health policies.
9. Use respectable language at all times.
10. Must be neat, clean and dress appropriately.
11. Display professional behavior when working with students, families, co-workers and others in the community.
12. Have knowledge of common safety hazards and necessary safety precautions for self and others, sufficient to be able to establish a safe work environment. Ability to use the principles of safety and to perform skills protecting the health and safety of self, students and co-workers.
13. Physically capable of performing bus evacuation techniques, lifting and positioning students to a safe area, away from the vehicle.

Specific

1. Have knowledge of local, state and federal rules, regulations, ordinances and laws regarding student transportation operations. Obey all state and federal laws.
2. React appropriately and independently in emergency situations.
3. Assist with medical and behavior problems.
4. Keep all students information confidential.
5. Maintain accurate and timely records regarding:
6. Assure that students get on and off the school bus in a safe and orderly fashion.
7. Report inappropriate behavior to principal using the designated form.
8. Interact effectively with students/consumers.
9. Maintains order and behavior of children on the bus so the driver will not be distracted from safe driving.
10. Maintains a positive, calm attitude and a soft voice while on the job.
11. Demonstrate an awareness of the potential risk and consistently use universal precautions in relation to "infection control."
12. Ensures all passengers are properly restrained while riding the bus.
13. Protects all children from physical punishment or verbal abuse by anyone in any program activity, and immediately reports any such incident to the center director or person in charge.
14. Releases children only to authorized persons, and requires identification of identity.
15. Notifies the school personnel of concerns regarding the children's health, behavior, or emotional state.
16. Learns bus route and makes the substitute driver aware of it when necessary.
17. Checks the bus to assure there are no children remaining on the bus at the end of each route.
18. In cooperation with the driver, removes trash and litter from bus daily. Cleans and disinfects the buss interior including seats, handrails, windows, and floors daily.
19. Updates bus seating chart as needed and keep a current chart on file in the office and on the bus.
20. Assures fire extinguisher, body fluids kit, first aid kit, and seat belt cutters are properly labeled and secured in disgnated locations at all times.
21. Attends all training opportunities as provided and all staff meetings when called by the director.
22. Complete other transportation duties assigned by the district and/or transportation director.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in written form, with employees of all levels, as well as parents, students and community members.
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment.
• Ability to possess a calm demeanor when dealing with students, parents and school personnel. Maintain composure when confronted by angry motorists.
• Ability to walk up and down bus stairs; exit through emergency door when necessary.
• Ability to evacuate bus, if necessary, including the ability to lift, move, or drag students weighing 100 +/- pounds in the event of an emergency.
• Ability to ride bus during extremely hot or cold temperatures, and all types of weather including snow, sleet, rain, etc. .
• Ability to fasten and unfasten physical restraint.
• Ability to undergo training to administer medications, including, but not limited to injections for allergies (such as peanut or bee sting allergies.)
• Respect for student, teachers, parents, and support staff.
• Ability to move throughout building and in the surrounding facility outside the office (i.e. bus parking lot).

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

1. Be able to pass the annual physical as may be prescribed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, including PPD or X-ray for tuberculosis screen. Successfully pass random and periodic drug/alcohol testing.
2. High school diploma or equivalent.

EQUIPMENT USED:
Buses, safety equipment, seat equipment (i.e. harnesses, belts, etc.), cleaning equipment.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Work is primarily performed inside of a vehicle. School buses can become extremely hot during some months of the year, or cold during winter months. Interior noise levels can become very high when passengers are on board.
• Ability to work in a variety of locations, travel throughout the District, work non-traditional hours which may include evenings and meet the physical demands of handling a variety of needs. While performing duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk, hear, walk, stand, reach, bend, stoop, crouch, squat and kneel.