The current force of 400-plus school officers did not have to undergo such scrutiny, except the background checks. They received just four weeks of training.
Gillison's proposal was developed after an Inquirer report last month identified more than a dozen school officers with arrest records for assault, drugs, and other crimes and with disciplinary problems.
One officer, who had been in a diversion program for drug dependency, was arrested a second time for cocaine possession. She showed up for her hearing in uniform.
She was subsequently laid off with other per diem officers. The school district has since suspended without pay another officer, who was sought on an active bench warrant. And it is reviewing the cases of two others.
Gillison said he would like to "raise the bar" and see school officers get even more education than provided at the Police Academy, including sensitivity training and information on how to deal with adolescents.
"In order to have a safe environment," he said, "you have to have people who have the proper training, certification, psychological disposition, the proper understanding of their role, and the right temperament."
Michael Lodise, president of the officers' union, has called for more screening and training.
"They're finally listening to me," he said.
"We look forward to the recommendations," district spokesman Fernando Gallard said. "We're hoping to have a conversation on any ideas that would allow us to continue to improve the school police force in the district."
Gillison said he understood the district's dire fiscal challenges and conceded that it would have to weigh how much change it could afford. Despite large-scale cutbacks, the district is still trying to close a $629 million budget gap.
