JOB TITLE: Bus Aide
REPORTS TO: Transportation Supervisor
EVALUATION: Classified Support Staff
WORK CALENDAR: 186 Day Work Calendar
COMPENSATION: Classified Hourly Non-Exempt
PURPOSE:
The Bus Aide/Bus Monitor assists the school bus driver in maintaining a safe, orderly, and supportive transportation environment for students traveling to and from school and district-authorized activities. The position monitors student behavior, assists students with boarding and exiting the bus, supports the implementation of individual transportation and safety procedures, and responds appropriately to routine situations and emergencies.
The Bus Aide/Bus Monitor promotes the safety, dignity, and well-being of all students, including students who require additional assistance or specialized transportation supports. The position works collaboratively with the bus driver, Transportation Department, school personnel, families, and other district staff to ensure that students are transported in accordance with district procedures and applicable laws and regulations.
JOB QUALIFICATIONS:
- Minimum of High School Diploma or equivalent certificate
- Obtain and maintain a valid AZ DPS IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card
- Excellent communication skills and demonstrated ability to work effectively with various stakeholders
- Demonstrated ability to be punctual and reliable in the performance of duties
- Ability to maintain confidentiality of student, family, and district information, and exercise discretion in all school business matters
- Knowledge of and adherence to proper lifting methods and safety procedures
- Ability to follow written and verbal instructions, established safety procedures, assigned routes, and schedules.
- Ability to maintain appropriate student supervision, respond calmly to challenging situations, and exercise sound judgment.
- Ability to successfully complete required district screening, background clearance, and other pre-employment requirements applicable to the position.
- Ability to complete required job-specific training, including student safety, emergency procedures, and any assigned specialized transportation procedures.
- Ability to meet the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
- Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board may find appropriate and acceptable
- Previous experience working with children in a school, childcare, transportation, or related setting. (Preferred)
- Experience supporting students with disabilities or students who require additional behavioral, communication, mobility, or personal-care assistance. (Preferred)
- Current First Aid and CPR certification, or willingness and ability to obtain and maintain certification within the timeframe established by the District. (Preferred)
Preferred qualifications
- Experience supporting students with disabilities or students who require additional behavioral, communication, mobility, or personal-care assistance.
- Current First Aid and CPR certification, or willingness and ability to obtain and maintain certification within the timeframe established by the District.
Additional conditions of employment
- Must maintain any required clearances and certifications throughout employment.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following knowledge, skills, abilities, duties and responsibilities, and physical requirements. This list is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY, and is not a comprehensive listing of all duties and responsibilities
performed by incumbents of this class.
SKAs - Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities
Knowledge of:
- Student supervision practices and school bus safety procedures.
- Age-appropriate expectations for elementary and middle school students.
- Positive behavior support, redirection, and de-escalation techniques.
- Emergency response, evacuation procedures, and incident reporting.
- Student confidentiality requirements and appropriate professional boundaries.
- Procedures for assisting students with mobility, communication, behavioral, or other individualized transportation needs, as applicable to assigned routes.
- District policies and procedures related to student conduct, safety, attendance, and transportation.
Skills in:
- Communicating clearly, respectfully, and effectively with students and adults.
- Observing student behavior and identifying potential safety concerns.
- Providing calm, consistent supervision and redirection.
- Following established procedures and responding appropriately to unexpected situations.
- Documenting incidents and communicating relevant information accurately.
- Working collaboratively with drivers and district personnel.
- Using appropriate student assistance and safety equipment after receiving required training.
Ability to:
- Maintain active awareness of students throughout assigned transportation duties.
- Recognize hazards and take appropriate action to protect student safety.
- Follow instructions and carry out assigned responsibilities reliably and consistently.
- Respond calmly and professionally during emergencies or behavioral incidents.
- Support students respectfully while maintaining appropriate boundaries and preserving their dignity.
- Protect confidential information and share it only with authorized individuals who have a legitimate educational or operational need.
- Work independently within established procedures and seek assistance when a situation exceeds assigned authority or training.
- Perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The following duties represent the essential functions of the position. Specific assignments may vary based on student needs, route assignments, and district operational requirements.
Student supervision and safety
- Assist the bus driver in maintaining a safe, orderly, and respectful environment on the school bus.
- Monitor students during boarding, transportation, and unloading, including at designated stops and school loading areas, as assigned.
- Help students board and exit the bus safely and provide assistance appropriate to their age, abilities, and individual needs.
- Reinforce established bus rules, provide appropriate reminders and redirection, and report repeated or serious behavior concerns to the bus driver and supervisor.
- Observe students for signs of distress, illness, injury, bullying, unsafe behavior, or other concerns and take appropriate action within the scope of training and assigned responsibilities.
- Support student supervision during transitions between the bus and designated school or parent/guardian pickup locations, as assigned.
- Follow established student release, authorized pickup, and transportation safety procedures.
- Report unsafe conditions, equipment concerns, route hazards, and other potential risks to the appropriate district personnel.
Support for students with individualized needs
- Assist students with mobility, communication, behavioral, or personal-care needs as assigned and consistent with applicable training, district procedures, and individualized student plans.
- Assist with the use of approved safety restraints, mobility devices, wheelchair lifts, specialized seating, or other transportation equipment when assigned and properly trained.
- Follow applicable individualized education program (IEP) transportation provisions, health plans, emergency plans, and other authorized student support procedures.
- Provide assistance in a manner that respects student dignity, privacy, and independence.
- Communicate relevant observations and concerns to authorized district personnel without independently changing prescribed student support procedures.
Emergency response and incident reporting
- Assist the bus driver with emergency response and student evacuation procedures in accordance with district training and established protocols.
- Notify the driver and appropriate district personnel of accidents, injuries, medical concerns, missing students, unauthorized pickup attempts, or other significant incidents.
- Provide First Aid or CPR within the scope of current training and applicable procedures when necessary.
- Participate in required safety drills, emergency training, and other assigned transportation safety activities.
- Complete required incident reports, student behavior documentation, and other records accurately and promptly.
Communication and professional responsibilities
- Maintain professional and respectful communication with students, parents/guardians, school staff, and district personnel.
- Refer parent/guardian concerns, requests for transportation changes, complaints, and matters outside the position's authority to the bus driver or appropriate supervisor.
- Protect confidential student and family information in accordance with applicable law and district policy.
- Attend required meetings, orientations, and training sessions.
- Perform assigned post-route student checks and assist with other end-of-route safety procedures to ensure no student remains on the bus, in accordance with district protocols.
- Assist with routine cleanliness and readiness of the bus and report maintenance or sanitation concerns to the appropriate personnel.
- Must complete required district training and demonstrate competency in assigned safety procedures before independently performing duties requiring that training.
- Must comply with applicable district policies, procedures, and student transportation requirements.
- Perform other related duties as assigned that are consistent with the position's scope, qualifications, and training.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
The physical requirements listed below describe the general demands associated with the position. Actual requirements may vary depending on assigned routes, student needs, and equipment used.
- Ability to enter and exit a school bus using available steps and handrails.
- Ability to sit for extended periods while maintaining active student supervision.
- Ability to stand, walk, bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, and maintain balance as needed to assist students and perform assigned duties.
- Ability to assist students with boarding, exiting, and emergency evacuation.
- Ability to push, pull, lift, or reposition student-related equipment and supplies consistent with assigned duties and applicable training.
- Ability to hear, communicate, and visually observe students and surroundings sufficiently to perform essential safety and supervision functions, with or without reasonable accommodation.
- Ability to respond promptly to safety concerns and emergencies.
- Ability to perform required tasks safely in the confined space of a school bus and around loading and unloading areas.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position, unless doing so would create an undue hardship or otherwise be inconsistent with applicable law.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT
- Work is primarily performed on a school bus and in outdoor loading and unloading areas, school parking lots, and other designated transportation locations.
- Work schedules generally correspond with student transportation routes and may require early morning and afternoon shifts, split shifts, and occasional additional assignments.
- The position involves regular interaction with elementary and middle school students, including students with a variety of behavioral, developmental, communication, mobility, and health-related needs.
- The employee may be exposed to varying weather conditions, extreme heat, vehicle noise, dust, odors, traffic, and other transportation-related environmental conditions.
- The employee may encounter bodily fluids, illness, and other potential exposure risks and must follow applicable infection-control and safety procedures.
- The position requires sustained attention, situational awareness, appropriate judgment, and the ability to remain calm during stressful or emergency situations.
- The employee must follow district safety procedures, applicable transportation regulations, and established protocols for reporting hazards and incidents.
- The position may require the employee to work during regular district breaks, weekends, and/or holidays due to alternative transportation routes, field trips, etc.
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:
- Part Time 29 hours/week Non-Exempt
- 10 Month Work Calendar
- Earned Paid Sick Time (Accrual up to 5 days)
- Mandatory participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS)
JOB DESCRIPTION ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by an employee assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, or working conditions. The District reserves the right to modify assignments and responsibilities consistent with operational needs and applicable law.
The employee must comply with applicable federal and state laws, Arizona Administrative Code requirements, governing board policies, district procedures, and supervisor directives.
Employee acknowledgment: I have reviewed this job description and understand the general responsibilities and expectations of the position.
Employee Name: _____________________________________________________________
Employee Signature: __________________________________________________________
Date: _______________________________________________________________________