Bus Aide

As an RSU 21 Bus Aide you are in charge of the safe conveyance of all persons on the bus. There may be times you will need to intervene and interact with students if they are being distracted or there is a safety concern.

Reports to: Transportation Manager

Qualifications: Love what you do, and the opportunity this position presents as a bus aide for the students at RSU 21. We are looking for a person who has experience working with children and/or experience working with children with disabilities. This person must have a high school diploma or GED. Needs to have the ability to lift or manage children of various ages. Appropriate dress and hygiene are important in this role. Finally, everyone must hold a valid criminal history records certification.

Responsibilities:

Accountability

• To be available daily to perform assigned runs
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers
• Respect and understand the confidentiality requirements of this position as well as your role within it. Report any and all concerns regarding students or bus issues to the Transportation Manager and/or Special Services Director who will relay information as appropriate to the students’ parent(s) and/or teacher.
• Cell phone use on the bus is allowed in emergency situations only.
• Assume other appropriate responsibilities assigned by the Transportation Manager and/or Special Services Director
• Must attend mandatory trainings as required
• All other duties as assigned

Student Centered

• Ride the bus to/from educational programs with children in special education programs.
• Maintain a safe and orderly environment on the bus for children in special education programs. No standing by aide or students while bus is moving
• Assist as needed with appropriate medical issues as specified by student’s Individual Health Plan and/or Individual Educational Plan (IEP)
• Assist in the event of medical emergencies
• Implement behavior management plan for riding the bus, which could be developed by the Special Ed teachers of that school
• Communicate with bus driver, parents, and special education staff directed by Transportation Manager
• Provide physical support in the event of a crisis or need to defuse an aggressive outburst
• Provide physical support to aid students with mobility as needed. You will not enter homes, but help from doorway to seat when needed
• Participate in in-service training provided through the district to improve knowledge and skills needed to perform job responsibilities. You are paid for this in-service and will mirror those in-service hours of the bus driver.
• Refrain from personal conversations while students are on the bus
• Consistently demonstrate appropriate interactions with students on the bus:
• Greet children in the morning and afternoon
• Model appropriate manners at all times
• Always speak in a calm voice to students; never threaten or argue with students
• Be respectful to each child and treat all children equally
• Acknowledge positive behaviors
• Follow Hands-Off protocol at all times, except if needed as noted in Performance Responsibilities

Key Competencies:

• Attention to detail: you’re obsessed with accuracy and embrace the importance of “getting it right”; you triple-check documentation to ensure you can stand by your work; your discipline enables you to work error-free despite repetitive nature of tasks
• Team player: you support your colleagues and have their backs; you pinch hit for one another when needed; you approach your work with a team mentality to ensure collective success
• Critical judgment and decision-making: you apply informed judgment to resolve difficult issues; you confront emerging challenges and recommend thoughtful, creative, and impactful solutions
• Commitment to processes and procedures: you (and your teams) standardize, follow, and refine approaches and systems; you collectively identify and document process solutions
• 100% follow-through: you have a no-dropped-balls policy, stay on top of all specific tasks/follow-up items and general areas of work to meet deadlines consistently; you clearly communicate steps taken
• Calm in the storm: you stay grounded and focused when problems emerge; you stand ready to provide support, identify options, and delegate tasks as needed
• Embrace diversity: you value a diversity of perspectives, styles and beliefs; you understand the difference between tolerance and inclusion

Reasonable Accommodations: RSU 21 will provide accommodations to an individual with a disability, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or applicable law, who has made the district aware of their disability, unless doing so would cause an undue hardship to the district.

Terms of Employment: Salary and benefits in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement and Board policies.

Evaluation: Performance of this job will be evaluated annually in accordance with this document by the Transportation Manager.

Revised Date: 6/13/2022

Date Approved Superintendent: 6/13/2022