The two Lake Forest public school districts are preparing for the 2026–27 school year with the hiring of a new safety chief and a future high school athletic director.
Districts 67 and 115 plan to hire Illinois State Police Capt. Joseph Blanchette as director of safety and security, while District 115 also intends to bring on Kankakee High School athletic director Ronnie Wilcox as co-athletic director at Lake Forest High School.
Blanchette, who has served with the Illinois State Police since 2004, will oversee security across District 67 schools and Lake Forest High School’s two campuses. He was selected from a pool of 57 candidates, including two finalists, according to the district.
“It’s an honor to serve as director of safety and security for the Lake Forest School District,” Blanchette said in a statement. “Working with this school community means partnering to create an environment where students and staff feel safe, supported, and able to focus on learning.”
Blanchette will also oversee security during the ongoing renovation of the high school’s McKinley Road campus, which opened in 1935. He will succeed Chuck Walsh, who is retiring in June after taking the position in 2023.
“A fresh perspective is always valuable,” Superintendent Matthew Montgomery said in a statement. “However, it is not defined solely by prior employment. We are confident Mr. Blanchette will build on Mr. Walsh’s strong foundation and continue to strengthen our culture of safety and security.”
Wilcox will begin in July as co-athletic director, working alongside current athletic director Tim Burkhalter during the 2026–27 school year. He is expected to assume the role full-time following Burkhalter’s anticipated retirement next year, which will mark his 22nd year as Lake Forest High School athletic director.
Wilcox was selected from a pool of more than 100 applicants, narrowed to two finalists. He has worked at Kankakee High School since 2007 and has served as athletic director since 2015, according to his LinkedIn page. He previously coached at Mount Carmel High School and Wabash Valley College.
“High school athletics have played a defining role in my life,” Wilcox said in a statement. “They build resilience, demand leadership, and teach the importance of being part of something bigger than yourself.”
Both hires require formal approval from their respective school boards, which are expected to vote in May.
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
