About Our Bus Drivers (continuous Recruitment Employment)

School bus drivers transport the most precious cargo in the world – our students!The District’s drivers hold an outstanding record for safety. Therefore, candidates for this position must undergo intensive scrutiny and training.

How the Process Works:

• See application procedures for Classified / Non-Instructional Employees
• A copy of the driving history from the Department of Motor Vehicles is reviewed
• Character references are called for verification
• Employment history is checked
• Medical exam is performed by school physician
• Drug and alcohol tests are administered by an independent testing laboratory
• Fingerprinting to check for criminal background with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS)

Driver Training

• Upon completion and acceptance of the above, the new bus driver begins a 80-hour training program with our driver trainers. In addition to behind the wheel driving, the driver takes classroom training in topics such as assertive discipline, school district policies and procedures, NYS Education Dept. and Dept. of Motor Vehicles laws, rules and regulations, driving in inclement weather and special training for students with disabilities.
• Within their first year of employment, drivers must attend an additional 30-hour Course taught by a certified School Bus Driver Instructor in order to obtain certification by New York State.
• Every year, school bus drivers must attend two 2-Hour Refresher Courses; one in August and the other in January to review safety concerns, new laws and regulations as well as other pertinent information.
• Each year every driver must have a medical exam performed by the school physician.
• Every other year the bus drivers take a written test and a road test. These tests are conducted by our in-house 19A Certified Examiners. Failure of either test requires a driver to enter a re-training program during which time they are not permitted to drive.
• Every two years all drivers get a Defensive Driving Review.
• Throughout the year, drivers are subject to random unannounced drug and alcohol testing.
• Drivers are routinely followed by Supervisory personnel to observe driving skills. We have our own radar equipment and set up our own ‘radar traps’ to monitor inadvertent speeding.
• The Transportation Department's open door policy gives the drivers and supervisors an opportunity to discuss problems and safety concerns.

Lakeland drivers all hold a Commercial Drivers License (CDL), Class B, with a Passenger Endorsement. The CDL program began as a way to sharpen the skills and knowledge of commercial vehicle drivers, including bus drivers, and provide higher standards of safety and training. Under the program, drivers must score at least 80 percent on a 115-question written examination. All new drivers must also take the Commercial Drivers License Road Test conducted by a NY State Department of Motor Vehicles Inspector.

For further information, please contact the Department of Human Resources or:

Paul Cavaluzzi
Supervisor of Transportation
3100 E. Main Street
Mohegan Lake, NY 10547
(914) 528-4445

For more information about the Transportation department, click here.