School Bus Driver

School Bus Driver

The Bus Driver

15 Years Experience

South, ..

Female, 37

I have been a bus driver since late 2006. I know the inside story, the scoop, the down low dirt of what it takes to be a bus driver, how to handle kids and adults, and how to survive on the "streets" so to speak. I used to have a blog, feel free to browse it or ask me a question here.

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1007 Questions

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Last Answer on February 07, 2021

Best Rated

Hi question. So my child takes the bus in the mornings because he is in a wheel chair and I am unable to. I enrolled him in an after school program till 6pm. I can pick him up after school but will he loose his seat on bus in the morning? Yes or no

Asked by WorriedMOM over 6 years ago

No. Whether you can transport him or not should have no bearing on whether he is eligible for school bus transportation. We have many kids who ride mornings only or afternoons only.

What was your first year like?

Asked by You are the right one ?? about 7 years ago

A lot of learning. I had to think outside the box and then learn on a steep learning curve to manage students.

Okay so I heard somewhere that a bus driver can not break up a fight. My bus driver a few years ago did and nothing happened to her. She still drove so she did not get fired, suspended, or put in jail

Asked by Karen about 7 years ago

It depends on the district policies and is generally left up to the personal call of the driver in charge. For example, if I have two middle school or high school kids fighting, I will call the cops. But if the kids are elementary, scrawny and tiny, I'll intervene before they beat the snot out of each other.

Okay this happens months ago but I want to see what you think. Okay my Ag teacher who drives a bus of the class down to the school farm took a phone call while he was driving. Should I have said something?

Asked by Jims about 7 years ago

Again situational. Depending on the situation at hand the rule states no phone use primarily. That being said if he wasn't a normal driver he might not have thought about it. Truthfully, I've taken phone calls but usually make them brief as unless its an emergency it can wait.

Why are parents and students so mean to subs? They are just trying to do their job and they are yelled at they are too early, too late, made a simple wrong turn and can easly turn around. Also kids are usually for them then their regular driver.

Asked by afasdfa about 7 years ago

Subs have a more difficult job than regular drivers because they do take the brunt of problems if a kid misbehaves or is not out at the stop. That being said no route is without problems and problem kids. The trick is to figure out how to approach it.

Why is there such a shortage of bus drivers?

Asked by Maya about 7 years ago

Because the job is severely underpaid for the hours and dedication we put in as drivers. Lots of places won't hire a person to work part time for the hours that we are available since our schedule is so unique and our pay isn't even close to what would be a livable wage.

Is it true that some bus drivers pull in to a school and wait 30 minutes even a hour just to be the first ones there? If you where a supervisor would you allow buses to wait as long as some do?

Asked by Rodney over 6 years ago

Yes it's true at least for my district. Personally that is on individual bus drivers call but as for me I am not a babysitter therefore i refuse to wait any longer than i have to.