How would you like to be a great school bus driver?
Here at RSU 16 we have an experienced team of school transportation professionals that are excellent mentors for those who want to become great school bus drivers. This supportive and collaborative team ensures the safety of our students while being transported to and from school, and for our co-curricular events. Free training is available to help you obtain your Commercial Drivers License (CDL) with all required endorsements. See more below on how to join this extraordinary team, and if you’re the right fit we would love to have you be part of a team where safely transporting our students is our #1 priority!
What does becoming a bus driver entail?
These are the technical steps . . .
- Obtain an application by clicking here or you can pick one up at our Central Office, 3 Aggregate Road in Poland.
- The director of transportation will contact selected applicants for an interview.
- You will be required to submit to a State of Maine Department of Education (DOE) Criminal History Record Check (CHRC). The State fee for new applicants who require fingerprinting is $70.
- If you possess a CDL with required endorsements, and have a current CHRC, school bus driver vacancies are currently available.
These are a few characteristics of a GREAT driver . . . could this describe you?
- Patience with the students. There is no denying that students can be active on a bus, and managing behavior while driving a large vehicle in traffic -- multitasking -- is part of the job. We have found that successful applicants master these skills early in their careers, and refine them over time.
- Quick to respond to issues. Sometimes things can go awry and an issue might arise during the bus route. A good bus driver reacts quickly and decisively to challenges while ensuring that safety of all students is the #1 priority.
- Safety first! A great school bus driver will always follow the route and report deviations to their supervisor, wear their seat belt, and follow all rules of the road including stopping at railroad crossings. Professional school bus drivers do not speed, no matter what -- we practice "Safety Before Schedule" at RSU 16, and strive to maximize the student ridership experience.
Let’s be real . . .
- Flexibility is sometimes necessary. You may be asked to drive a field trip, sports trip, or cover a route for which the regular driver is absent.
- You must have the ability to lift in the unlikely event of a school bus evacuation.
- You will be responsible for starting your bus and checking to make sure that it is mechanically safe and ready to transport students, even on cold mornings.
- Some days will be more difficult than others, but some days are also easier than others. A positive outlook and attitude makes everyone's day.
- You have to love kids and you have to realize you are the first educator and the last educator who students see every day. Your positive attitude starts their day bright and ends their day right.
- It takes a special sort of person to be a professional school bus driver -- can you be that special sort of person?
Be a part of the school experience for our students and join our team at RSU 16.
"You always have the choice to be happy. Learn to understand the purpose of bumps in the road, grow from them and stay positive."
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