Muscatine Schools is hiring for Substitute Special Education Aides for the Transportation Department. These Substitutes will fill in for a regular employee's absence and accompany students safely to and from school on the school bus, on an as needed basis. A Substitute Sped Para for Transportation will support the Bus Driver on the AM route (to school portion) and the PM route (from school portion) and on any midday routes that may need support. These positions pay $10.80/hour.

Please see below job description for a list of the duties and responsibilities of a Special Education Aide for Transportation.

An interview, pre-employment background check, and onboarding/training session will be required prior to a candidate beginning as a Paraeducator with Muscatine Schools.

For assistance with the online application, please contact the Muscatine School District Human Resources Department at 563-263-7223.    

MUSCATINE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

JOB REQUIREMENTS ANALYSIS

POSITION TITLE: Special Education Transportation Aide

EMPLOYEE UNIT: Clerical/Secretarial/Aide/Paraeducator

FUNCTIONAL AREA: Support Staff

REPORT TO: Transportation Supervisors

STATUS: 9-Month Employee

FLSA STATUS: Non-exempt

Normal Work Day: 

The duties of a Special Education Transportation Aide are based upon both the number of students, the Individual Education Program (IEP) of each of the students, and the need of the students. These positions may begin/end with very little notice. The daily schedule is based on the bus routes. Bus route times are always subject to change.

CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:    

Required to take Chapter 103 Training __ Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Training (includes preventative strategies, de-escalation skills, and communication techniques). Chapter 103 training does not need to be completed prior to employment. Required to complete Mandatory Reporting of Child and Dependent Adult abuse training as part of the pre-employment process.

OBJECTIVE:

Assist with problem-reducing behavior on school bus and on school grounds to help reduce disruptions and off-task behavior in the classroom including on the bus to and from school. Consult with Transportation Supervisor, other school staff, and/or parents for re-direction and crisis procedures and plans, while communicating any concerns to Bus Driver and Transportation Supervisor.

MAJOR DUTIES:

Students have been assigned Special Education Transportation Aides because of one or more conditions which diminish their capacities; examples include: reduced mental abilities, learning disabilities, behavioral disorders, etc. It is crucial that the student be provided with every opportunity to perform at the highest level possible in a manner appropriate to his/her Individual Educational Program (IEP). Because the student cannot meet all of his/her own needs without assistance, the aide must be able to perform a variety of tasks to assist the student. The aide must know and understand the Individual Educational Program (IEP) so that the aide does no more/less than what is outlined specifically in the IEP.

The following may or may not apply to a particular student(s) but are typical of the types of duties a person holding this job title will be expected to perform:

• Help student(s) enter and exit the school bus during trips to and from school
• Carry through with disciplinary programming and disciplinary rules as established by district approved behavior management program(s)
• Protect the student’s health and safety through the proper administration of CPR and first aid with knowledge of the student's reaction to medication, both over/under correct levels
• Assist student(s) with environmental mobility programming that is conducted within the community setting
• Perform supervision of regular education students as directed by the Bus Driver including but not limited to: bus lines, bus stops, interior of bus and any and all other areas in or around the bus
• Must be able to assist with student evacuation of bus, assisting students through emergency exits as needed (may require lifting)
• Other duties of a similar nature to be assigned as needed.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Qualified candidates will hold a high school diploma or GED in addition to one or more of the following: two years of study at an institution of higher education; an associate's (or higher) degree; a voluntary certification course offered through the Board of Educational Examiners (ex: paraeducator certification). Candidates who have a high school diploma or GED but do not meet the additional qualifications will be required to complete a standardized assessment, prior to being hired as a regular employee, demonstrating their abilities in reading, writing, and mathematics.
• While all positions allow the employee to start in a position prior to receiving certain training (Chapter 103 training, for example), there are some that cannot be performed well until after being trained. In all cases if the employee does not take the training when it is offered they are no longer eligible to hold the position.
• The employee must have the physical capacity to assist the physically challenged student including lifting the student as required.

LOCATION:  Student Transportation

Knowledge skills and abilities required to carry out the job satisfactorily.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Computer proficient in skill level appropriate software
• Capacity to understand the IEP and specific behavioral and crisis plans based on the IEP as established by the student’s teacher
• Experience working with challenged students
• Self-starter and able to help student become more self-sufficient and/or successful in classes and on the bus
• Physically able to help students
• Proficient in student's equipment included but not limited to the computer, wheel chair, health equipment, mobilizer, immobilizer
• Building and school bus safety procedures
• Building and school alarm systems
• Must genuinely like children and enjoy working with young people
• Must not get upset by occasional bad language, threat of physical violence or personal habits of student
• Possess patience so as not to become easily discouraged
• Ability to help students become one of the bus peer group
• Willingness to assume responsibility
• Good human relations skills and interpersonal skills
• Maintain highest level of confidentiality at all times
• Ability to work well with others

AMERICAN DISABILITY ACT STATEMENT:

The information contained in this job description is in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position.  Additional duties are performed by the individual holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Employee must be capable of working under stress with large numbers of students, parents and co-workers. Lack of mobility may limit assignment(s). Mental acuity is required and mental and physical ability to manage workload is essential.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; use hands and fingers to handle and/or feel objects, tools or controls; talk and hear.  The employee frequently must squat, stoop or kneel, reach above the head and forward 0 to 24 inches and on occasion up to 36 inches.  The employee continuously uses hand strength to grasp items.  The employee will frequently bend or twist at the neck and trunk more than the average person while performing the duties of this job.  The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds 0 to 12 feet and occasionally up to 20 feet, such as curriculum materials, desks, chairs, and boxes.  The employee will sometimes push/pull items such as tables and carts.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision and the ability to adjust focus while supervising students and working with computers, written materials, reports, assessment data, etc.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet. The position requires the commitment of professional working hours that may require the employee to extend beyond a typical 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. workday. The employee will move, stand, squat on an assortment of surfaces. The employee will be required to work outside during hot or cold weather, rain, snow, sleet and icy conditions while performing their duties. The employee will stand and move on surfaces that are damp.

A. Job Postings
Whenever a job opening occurs, other than a temporary opening as defined below, in any
existing job classification or as the result of the development of a new job classification, a
notice of such an opening shall be posted on the district’s website for a minimum of five
(5) working days, unless extenuating circumstances require fewer days. The notice shall
include rate of pay, classification title, closing date, and minimum qualifications required
for the job. Minimum qualifications may include successful testing, physical demands,
working environment, bilingual skills and other minimum qualifications.
Applicants, who wish to apply for the opening including employees and employees on
layoff from any classification, may do so. The district shall fill the opening, after
interviewing the top applicants, by selecting from the applicant pool the candidate it
believes who most closely matches the requirements of the position. Employees who are
offered and accept a position in a different classification will begin at Year 1; or if the
employee had prior years of service in that classification, will begin at the year following
the number of prior years of experience on the wage scale.
During the first ninety (90) working days of employment or appointment to a new
position, an employee will not be eligible to apply for vacancies in order to provide
consistency for students. The contents of this section shall be noted prominently on all
postings.
Pre-employment fitness-to-perform examinations may be required. Such examinations
shall be specific to actual job requirements and essential functions of the job for which
the applicant has applied and if required shall be paid in full by the district. Failure to
meet the standardized medically valid criteria specific to the job requirements of the
specific job for which the applicant has applied shall be valid grounds not to hire.
However, the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) requirements for reasonable
accommodation shall remain in force.