Job Overview
The Monitor Bus Special Education will provide safe, efficient, and reliable transportation service by riding various school buses and ensuring a comfortable ride for students being transported to and from school as well as related activities while maintaining a harmonious relation with transportation staff, district administrators, teachers, coaches and community members.

Position Description

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Operation

• Contribute to the care and safety of students by freeing the Bus Driver to operate the bus in a safe manner and properly securing students and self with provided safety equipment
• Assist the special ed students by providing physical assistance, and/or supervision by helping them get on or off the bus, find their seat, putting on or taking off seat belt, putting on or taking off their backpacks ensuring them a safe and comfortable bus ride to and from school as well as related activities
• Assist in the operation of wheelchair lift equipment; assist the driver in the use of special equipment such as safety vests, seat belts, and wheelchair tie-downs and assist students in braces and on crutches
• Perform Pre- & Post- Trip inspections of Special Ed Equipment in accordance with Fort Bend ISD Policies & Procedures
• Assist and guide a driver to follow assigned route and adhere to established schedules
• Required to keep the interior of the assigned vehicle clean, presentable in accordance with Fort Bend ISD Policies & Procedures
• Must be able to physically assist passengers in evacuation of the vehicle in case of emergency
• Establish and maintain good rapport with students, parents, school personnel and co-workers

Administrative

• Assist the driver in maintaining the Special Needs bus binder of student and bus information including up-to-date route information, turn-by-turn directions and ridership information, such as student attendance records
• Attend training sessions needed to care for special education students requiring critical care services such as suctioning, suppositories, tracheotomy cleaning, and other special procedures to maintain a high proficiency level
• Attend required in-service, safety meetings and training sessions
• Assist in reporting with all accidents, vehicle damage, mechanical failures, student injuries, and assist in completing required reports
• Demonstrate punctuality and reliability by regular attendance to meet students' needs
• Administer and enforce student discipline in accordance with Fort Bend ISD Policies & Procedures and prepare discipline reports as necessary
• Adhere to student Individual Education Plan documents and maintain confidentiality

Supervisory Responsibilities

• None

Qualification Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each of the above essential duties satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or abilities, required unless otherwise stated as preferred. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essentials functions.

• High School Diploma or GED preferred
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions
• Ability to operate safety equipment
• Ability to manage student behavior
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills, both orally and in writing
• Ability to read a map and use maps preferred
• Experience working with special education students preferred
• Some knowledge of the policies, procedures, methods, techniques, equipment, precautions and safety measures involved in transporting and caring for special education students preferred

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions

The work environment characteristics and physical demands described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Work is performed in classrooms, offices, work stations and meeting rooms.

The position requires occasional walking, standing, sitting, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and lifting/carrying work related items weighing less than 40 pounds, such as books, papers and presentation materials. The employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus. Attendance at conferences and professional development is required. Work involves everyday risks and discomforts which require normal safety precautions when operating equipment or performing job duties. May work prolonged or irregular hours and must be able to maintain emotional control under stress.

Additional Information

• Conditions include operating in inclement weather, heat and humidity, enduring a bumpy ride, and exposure to possible injury due to traffic accidents. Must be able to physically climb in and out of the school bus emergency doors to evacuate the bus in an emergency. There is considerable exposure to dust, traffic fumes, and high noise level from both outside traffic as well as from passengers. Psychological factors include dealing with mentally challenged children and adults, dealing with life threatening emergencies.
• Requires sufficient physical strength, agility, and dexterity to perform all essential tasks, pulling and pushing up to 300 pounds, such as an electric wheelchair, reaching in front of body and stretching overhead. Ability to jump from a height of 3 to 5 feet for bus evacuation. Duties also require frequent walking, sitting, bending, squatting, twisting, kneeling, stooping, and climbing. Requires climbing in and out of bus service door multiple times per shift. Work also requires visual acuity and physical dexterity in the frequent use of hand-eye coordination and manipulative skills using fingers, limbs and body in operating special equipment and assisting special education students. Employee is exposed to potential road hazards, including accidents, fumes from exhausts, loud noises, vehicles with and without AC, and adverse weather and climatic conditions. Employee is also exposed to potential physical hazards when operating wheelchair lift and other special equipment, and when assisting students. Work may expose employee to potential biological hazards from student body fluids. Work requires compliance with safety procedures and may require the use of safety clothing and equipment. Work outside and inside. May work prolonged or irregular hours and must be able to maintain emotional control under stress. This position may travel to various campuses, district meeting sites and conferences/meetings. This position may require the employee to work some evenings and weekends.