Bus Monitor Responsibilities

Bus monitors respond to bus-related safety concerns.

Approximately 20 children die each year in school bus-related accidents. Of those children, 25 are injured inside the bus, 25 percent are struck by oncoming traffic and 50 percent are hit by the bus. A bus monitor can reduce risks that lead to harmful and fatal accidents. Bus monitor responsibilities vary between school districts and regions; however, the primary responsibility is ensuring student safety.

Personal Attributes and Qualifications

Bus monitors must be able to relate to children.

To be effective, a school bus monitor must know how to work with children. Monitors should be patient, refrain from yelling, speak slowly and clearly and use simple vocabulary. Monitors should not show anger or impatience toward the children. Monitors must be observant. Monitors should minimize rules and limits to avoid confusion. Monitors must have a valid driver's license with no violations. Some school districts require monitors to obtain a commercial driver's license with a school bus endorsement and pass drug and alcohol tests.

Ensure Safety

Bus monitors ensure safety, inside and outside the bus.

A bus monitor ensures that children are safe when outside of the bus. The monitor observes children waiting at a bus stop and can alert the bus driver if a child is in the way. The monitor escorts children across busy roads. The monitor is responsible for verifying that all children are a safe distance away from the bus before the bus moves. The monitor must know the evacuation plan and be prepared to evacuate children in case of an emergency. The monitor is responsible for assisting disabled children in wheelchairs and must know how to operate the wheelchair lift and secure the wheelchair by fastening tie downs. The monitor is also responsible for children who ride in child safety seats.

Maintain Order

Keeping children calm and quiet minimizes distracted driving.

The bus monitor maintains order during the bus ride. Ensuring that children remain seated and quiet reduces the risk of the bus driver becoming distracted. The monitor is familiar with student behavioral issues and can assign seats to avoid conflict. The monitor verifies bus passes to ensure that children boarding the bus are assigned to the bus. The monitor must sit in a location that allows the monitor to observe every child all of the time.

General Duties

The bus monitor is responsible for keeping the bus clean.

The bus monitor assists the bus driver with pre- and post-trip inspections, maintaining cleanliness and inspecting the bus for damages and repairs. The monitor is responsible for completing and submitting student violation reports to the transportation supervisor. The monitor should know the bus route and have parent contact information accessible. Bus monitors may be required to attend school bus safety meetings.

References

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Selecting School Bus Stop Locations; July 2010
• Moore County Schools: School Bus Monitor
• State of Georgia Department of Education: Georgia School Bus Driver Training Manual
• United Public Service Employees Union: Requirement for School Bus Drivers, Monitors and Attendants: September 1, 2003
• Paterson Public Schools: School Bus Monitor Job Description