Wade Waldrop is the new football coach for James Clemens High School. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Madison Board of Education approved security improvements and hired a new head football coach for James Clemens High School on Feb. 21.

The board revised the 2013 capital plan and accepted the $242,600 bid from Pettus Mechanical Services in Rogersville for security doors.

Discovery Middle School and Heritage, Horizon, West Madison, Madison, Rainbow and Columbia elementary schools will receive the doors. Mill Creek elementary, Liberty middle and James Clemens schools have secured entrances, as will Bob Jones High School after renovation.

Double-door entrances will require an employee to admit or ‘buzz in’ visitors through the second doors. Work will begin March 24, the start of spring break.

Frank Nola with SKT Architects said the doors have “burglar glass,” or laminated safety glass, 9/16-inch thick. “Technically, it’s not bulletproof glass. If you shoot it, it may put a hole in it but it won’t shatter. You would have to beat your way through it,” Nola said.

Board member Phil Schimdt asked if Pettus Mechanical had experience with these installations. “The general contract bidder has not installed similar doors. They’re acting as general contractor for subcontractor North Alabama Glass, who is familiar with the system and does work across North Alabama,” Nola said.

The board hired Madison ‘Wade’ Waldrop as James Clemens football coach. He has held a comparable position at Chelsea High School in Shelby County for seven years. Chelsea has moved from Class 4-A competition in 2005 to 6-A this year.

A Hartselle native, Waldrop earned a master’s degree at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Previously, he taught at Fayetteville High School in Sylacauga and UAB. Waldrop and wife Kimberly are parents of two daughters and one son.

“We’re excited to bring someone with Waldrop’s track record in leading a school (with) the growth rate we have,” James Clemens Principal Dr. Brian Clayton said.

Waldrop replaces Bill Stewart, who resigned after one season. Dr. John Greene, superintendent of Jackson (Ga.) County Schools, recruited Stewart. Greene was hired as James Clemens principal but returned to Georgia before the school opened.