JOB SUMMARY

The Bus Assistant works closely with special needs students in providing safe and efficient transportation.  Regularly provides students with physical assistance and emotional support so they may benefit from the District’s educational program.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Establishes, as fully as possible, a supportive and sympathetic relationship with students being transported without fostering or encouraging intense emotional involvement.

Assist with monitoring approximately 10 to 25 students per bus route.

Teaches and assists students with loading and unloading the bus properly and the proper safe conduct while riding.

Teaches and assists students with such physical needs as seating, buckling seat belts, and use of other specific safety equipment.

Teaches and assists students with such physical tasks as putting on and taking off outerwear and other functional life skills.

Teaches and assists students with hygiene tasks such as wiping noses, excess salivation, and other health care needs as required.

Operates, cares for, and cleans areas and equipment used in the transportation of students.  Uses proper technique for cleaning and disposing of human fluids.  Help keep the assigned bus clean.  Sweep and empty trash daily.

Teaches, assists, and encourages students to appropriately interact with other students and school personnel.

Relays messages and information between parents, teachers, and staff.  Communicate perceived student problems and student involvement with teachers and staff.  Follow oral and written instructions of teachers, school staff, and the parents or the responsible caregiver of the child.

Assists professional staff in the analysis of skill development and related tasks of the student’s individual development planned by the school professional staff.

Follows District policies, rules and regulations, and observes all mandatory safety regulations for school buses.  Supervises children during emergency drills.

Serves as the chief source of information and help to any substitute driver, teacher, and staff member.

Maintains a high level of ethical behavior and confidentiality of information about students as is expected of fully licensed professional staff.

Participates in in-service training programs as assigned.

Regular and dependable level of attendance is an essential function for this position.

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, education, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Minimum education includes a high school diploma/GED and previous experience working with children.  Any other alternatives to the qualifications as the Board may deem appropriate or acceptable.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Must be able to read, analyze and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.  Ability to speak clearly and effectively over a radio communications system, before groups of students and sponsors, and before groups of customers or employees of the organization. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions, inquiries, and/or complaints.  Displays courtesy, tact, and respect when dealing with others.

ANALYTICAL and REASONING SKILLS

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists and in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.  Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.  Maintains appropriate confidentiality.  Ability to work independently with minimum supervision.  Ability to use independent judgment and demonstrates initiative to act without being asked.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

Ability to operate wheelchair lifts, ramps, and securement locks.  Continual sitting, reaching, and repetitive hand and arm motions.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to talk and hear; stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms.  Frequent walking, stooping, bending, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, and pulling.  Moderate lifting and/or carry up to 50 pounds or more.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus during the hours of daylight and darkness.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to outside weather conditions; moving mechanical parts; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; and vibration.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.

OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED

Will perform other duties as may be assigned by the superintendent or designee, necessary and appropriate to the achievement of the program and/or District goals and objectives.

The Sioux City Community School District offers career and technical programs in the following areas: Business & Marketing, Family & Consumer Science, Health Science, and Industrial Arts, Technology, & PLTW.

The Sioux City Community School District is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information (for employment), national origin, religion, age (for employment), disability, socioeconomic status (for programs), marital status (for programs), or veteran status (for employment) in its educational programs and its employment practices.  The District is required by Title IX and 34 CFR Part 106 not to discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs, activities, or employment.  

Inquiries or grievances under Section 504  and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act may be directed to Dr. Dora Jung, Director of Student Services & Equity Education/Title IX Coordinator at 627 4th Street, Sioux City, IA 51101, (712) 279-6075,  jungd@live.siouxcityschools.com. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations to the District may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, the Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, or both. Please see District Board policies 103 and 504.4 for additional information on available grievance procedures.