POSITION CLASS TITLE: BUS DISPATCHER
JURISDICTIONAL CLASS: Competitive
CIVIL DIVISION: Schools
AUTHORIZATION: Personnel Officer
March 1984 (Revised 5/00, 3/13, 2/16, 7/19)
POSITION CLASS DEFINITION:
Essential nature of work, degree of difficulty and responsibility.
Schedules and dispatches school buses.
An employee in this class is responsible for the dispatching of drivers and school buses in a school district. The work is performed under the general supervision of a Transportation Supervisor or designated official. Supervision in the form of instructions is exercised over the work of a number of bus drivers and school bus aides. Does related work as required.
PRIMARY WORK ACTIVITIES:
Typical activities characteristic of the class.
-- Dispatches school buses on regularly assigned daily routes;
-- Operates radio dispatch equipment;
-- Insures that each bus has a qualified and licensed driver and that such driver reports to duty in sufficient time to cover the route in accordance with established time schedule;
-- Maintains a roster and calls substitute bus drivers when needed;
-- Schedules drivers for all field trips and activity trips as required;
-- Maintains up-to-date ledgers, records and files relating to trips;
-- May assist in the preparation of bus schedules;
-- Assists in handling routing and bus stop problems, complaints, and new children within the district;
-- Checks periodically all buses for compliance with safety laws;
-- Answers telephone and operates base station of bus communication systems;
-- Confers with parents and principals on behavior problems;
-- Handles the recording and submission of drivers’ time cards and their payroll;
-- Assists in the orientation and training of new bus drivers;
-- Reevaluates driving habits of veteran bus drivers;
-- Assists the Transportation Supervisor in a variety of areas where assigned;
-- May drive school bus when required.
BUS DISPATCHER (2042)
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Summary of full performance level characteristics.
GOOD KNOWLEDGE OF: Geographic lay-out of the school district; standard transportation methods and programs related to school district; current New York State Motor Vehicle Laws, rules, and regulations as applied to the operation of school buses; standard safety practices as applicable to school transportation programs.
ABILITY TO: Coordinate the work of others; deal effectively and efficiently with the public; understand and follow oral and written directions; communicate effectively both orally and in writing; maintain records and prepare reports; develop and maintain working relationships with drivers, parents, principals, and children.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education, specialized background, training and experience.
A. Graduation from a regionally accredited or NYS registered college or university with an associate's degree and one (1) year of experience in school transportation or a related field such as commercial bus or truck transportation, either as a driver, bus aide, or having responsibility for scheduling and/or routing drivers; OR
B. Graduation from high school or possession of an equivalency diploma and three (3) years of experience as described in “A” above; OR
C. An equivalent combination of training and experience as defined by the limits of "A" and "B"
above. An equivalent combination of training and experience as defined by the limits of "A" and "B" above.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:
If duties involve actual operation of bus: Eligibility for the appropriate level driver's license issued by New York State Department of Motor Vehicles at time of application or with possession of license at time of appointment. Drivers must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age and not have reached their sixty-fifth (65) birthday.
NOTE: In addition, candidates must satisfy the requirements for School Bus Driver as set forth in the Rules and Regulations of the New York State Commissioner of Education, State Education Law and Vehicle and Traffic Law.
REQUIRED CERTIFICATION/LICENSE:
Established by statute, rule or regulation governing position.