Dispatcher, Transportation

Job Purpose Statement

The job of Dispatcher exists for the purpose of coordinating the District’s transportation routing and dispatching functions, which include development of bus routes and extra trips, daily dispatching, and associated record keeping. The Dispatcher is to work collaboratively with supervisors and other transportation clerical support members to ensure the safe transportation of students and functionality of the department. The duties listed below may be the sole responsibility of the Dispatcher, or shared by office staff and supervisors to accomplish the objective.

The hours associated with this position are determined by management based on the need to ensure safe return of buses and delivery of students.

• Resume
• 2 Classified Reference Letters

8.0 hours per day, continuing position works 260 days per year. Schedule for  school year will be determined by supervisor.

• Communicate with drivers, families, and school staff using two-way radio and telephone systems to provide dispatch support, coordinate daily operations, respond to emergency situations, and provide guidance to staff to ensure safe and efficient transportation services.
• Coordinate substitute driver coverage by tracking driver leave requests, maintaining substitute availability, and providing route information and schedules.
• Develop, maintain, and modify bus routes for special education and McKinney Vento students, while optimizing routes for safety and efficiency.
• Collaborate with neighboring school districts and the McKinney-Vento liaison to develop and coordinate transportation plans for McKinney-Vento and foster care students.
• Track mileage and driver hours for McKinney-Vento transportation services and prepare billing for neighboring school districts and other agencies as needed.
• Collaborate with the Student Support department, case managers, and school staff to coordinate transportation services and ensure compliance with students' IEPs.
• Assign drivers to daily routes, field trips, and extracurricular trips, ensuring assignments are cost-effective and comply with collective bargaining agreements.
• Process and coordinate field trip requests, including preparing bid sheets, facilitating driver bidding, assigning trips, maintaining records, and closing out trips for billing.
• Coordinate district vehicle and van requests, including vehicle assignments, fuel cards, and associated recordkeeping.
• Coordinate vehicle assignments to ensure buses, vans, and other district vehicles meet the operational needs of daily routes, field trips, and special transportation requests.
• Other related duties as assigned.

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Possess a valid Washington State driver’s license.
• Possess a current first aid card or the ability to obtain one.
• Ability in using computers in daily, frequent job responsibilities.
• Typing, keyboarding and filing skills.
• Experience using Excel and Google Workspace (Drive, Docs, Sheets).
• Ability to work effectively and accurately under stressful conditions.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with drivers and other district personnel.
• Ability to communicate respectfully and calmly with parents, especially in emergency situations.
• Ability to conduct all job responsibilities with confidentiality.
• Ability to work both independently and cooperatively, exercise judgement and creativity, organize work, set priorities, meet deadlines, and work under pressure with constant disruptions.
• Ability to learn and maintain various computer applications related to routing, trips, vehicle maintenance and fuel management.
• Knowledge of the use of routing software and GPS programs.

• Knowledge of the Olympia area.
• Knowledge of laws pertaining to safe pupil transportation.
• Experience with dispatching and routing software.

Olympia School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service…