School Bus Driver - Wonderful College Prep Academy

Wonderful College Prep Academy is a charter network in California's Central Valley committed to providing a world-class education for all students. The Academy's mission is to graduate students prepared to earn a college degree and to put them on a promising career path for life. We believe this begins with a nurturing, engaging, community-centered school environment where students develop a strong and well-rounded academic foundation. Ultimately, this will prepare generations of leaders in the Central Valley who are critical thinkers and life-long learners.

The Academy's first school opened in Delano in 2009, serving students from across the Central Valley in grades 6-12. In 2016, we moved to our new, state-of-the-art college prep campus in Delano, and in the Fall of 2017, added an elementary school in Delano and opened a second charter school in Lost Hills. In Delano, we serve over 1,800 students in grades TK-12, while in Lost Hills, we serve over 400 students in grades TK-12. 

We seek thoughtful, inclusive, skilled communicators, and creative problem-solvers who value continuous learning and who are excited to serve our students and families. Now is the time to join a team making enduring change within the Central Valley of California and beyond! 

Click here to learn more about the Wonderful Company's other great philanthropic partnerships.

Under the supervision of the Transportation Manager, School Bus Driver I is an apprentice driver who drives a school bus over designated routes to transport students to and from school and on special trips. This position requires the performance of manual and routine tasks, which are governed by well-established or well-known procedures and regulations. Will exercise independent judgment when applying specific instructions and established methods to well-defined situations, particularly in human relations challenges where there is a requirement to exercise tact, patience, and firmness to maintain order and safety of students both on the bus and at bus stops and to interact with parents and the public. May or may not be required to transport students with special learning needs, or physical and/or mental challenges. A School Bus Driver I is an apprentice driver for Wonderful College Prep Academy District and is in a learning phase of their career, a School Bus Driver I is eligible for local trip assignments only. A School Bus Driver I will have immediate access to assistance from the Supervisor or other qualified staff through two-way radio for emergencies or unusual situations.

Essential Job Functions

• Drives a school bus daily over designated routes in accordance with time schedules, picking up.
• and discharging students.
• Escorts students across streets and roadways when necessary, stopping traffic as needed.
• Transports students and teachers on in-town trips to various locations making departure an arrival times as scheduled.
• Inspects bus prior to operation for safety purposes. Cleans windshields and headlights. Cleans interior and exterior of buses as needed. Including, but not limited to, picking up debris, sweeping and mopping floor and wiping and cleaning upholstery. Services bus with fuel and oil.
• Maintains appropriate behavior among students on buses and while the bus is parked at bus stops. Follows District policies regarding student control and contact with parents and the public.
• Reports problems or equipment malfunctions. Reports incidents, which affect the safety of
• student.
• Performs first aid or emergency assistance. Maintains records of all trips. Files accident reports.
• Operates wheelchair ramp and lift. Safely and properly secures wheelchairs inside the bus.
• Attends scheduled safety meetings and safety programs.
• Required to works onsite as campus supervision for school during non-transporting hours.
• Other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements

• High School diploma
• Requires: valid California Class “B” Driver’s License with “P” endorsement and “S” endorsement and air brake endorsement
• Valid California Special School Bus Driver Certificate
• Valid American Red Cross First Aid
• AED Certificate
• Ability to obtain and maintain a valid D.O.T. bus driver’s Medical Certificate.
• Ability to read and write sufficiently to perform all the duties of the position including understanding applicable laws, regulations, and codes required.
• Successful completion of 20 hours of classroom instruction related to skills and safety requirements for driving a school bus and successful completion of 20 hours of instruction behind the wheel of a school bus required

Skills & Knowledge

• Requires a thorough knowledge and understanding of safe bus driving practices.
•  Requires a thorough understanding of bus operation and safety sufficient to recognize problems and take appropriate action.
•  Must have a thorough understanding of State laws, rules and regulations, and Education Code sections pertaining to school bus operations and pupil transportation.
• Must know and understand how to apply first aid practices.
• Requires effective communication skills.
• Requires the ability to perform all the duties of the position with minimal supervision.
•  Must be able to drive a school bus safely and efficiently while keeping to well-established schedules.
•  Requires the ability to maintain order among students, both while driving and at bus stops.
•  Must be able to recognize malfunctions in equipment and take appropriate action.
• Requires the ability to maintain the assigned vehicle in clean and safe operating condition.
• Must administer first aid to ill or injured students.
• Must learn designated bus routes, including stops and traffic hazards.
• Must be able to perform routine, repetitive tasks continuously and to sit for prolonged periods of time. Requires the ability to maintain required records.
• Requires the ability to communicate effectively with peers, students, parents, and members of the public.
• Requires arm-hand and leg-foot dexterity to drive the bus.
• Requires visual acuity including depth perception.
• Requires the ability to sit for extended periods.
• Requires hearing sufficient to be aware of traffic and road distractions/conditions and listen to children.
• Flexible, varying schedules, early morning shifts.
• Friendly and willing to greet students each morning with a smile and a pleasant attitude to make them feel comfortable and prepare them to learn when they get to the classroom.
• Dependable, willing to be on the job every day possible creating a consistent, safe, and reliable means of transportation for all students.

Pay Range: $24.00 - $26.00. Final compensation will be dependent upon skills & experience.

• Wonderful College Prep Academy offers highly competitive compensation, commensurate with experience, which includes generous performance bonuses.
• Full-time staff benefits include medical coverage, dental, vision, and life insurance at no cost for the employee. We also offer an optional 403b, with company match, as a supplement to STRS retirement pension. In addition, employees have free access to the Wonderful Wellness Center and gym.

Quality of Life in the Central Valley:

Framed by the Sierra Nevada to the east and the Coast Ranges to the west, California's Central Valley is one of the world's most productive agricultural regions and the base of The Wonderful Company's agricultural operations. This vast area enjoys a moderate climate and offers residents a high quality of life, a low cost of living, and a host of diverse cultural and recreational activities. From wine tasting and hiking to rafting, fishing, skiing, and surfing -- all within a two-hour drive -- the family-friendly Central Valley has much to offer.

Wonderful College Prep Academy is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

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