At their Jan. 27 meeting, the Beachwood Board of Education voted unanimously, upon the recommendation of Superintendent Dr. Richard Markwardt, to approve the renewal of Principal Edward Klein’s contract.

The contract will be in effect for three years, effective Aug. 1, 2014 through July 31, 2017. In 2012, Klein signed a two-year contract with the district, and began serving as BHS principal on Aug. 1 of that year, following former Principal Robert Hardis’ promotion to assistant superintendent.

Klein was initially chosen from 75 applicants, after the district conducted a nationwide search, according to the Sun News.

“The situation that Beachwood was in… required a unique personality,” Board President Mitchel Luxenburg said in a recent interview. “Mr. Klein came to us with the highest of qualifications and recommendations. He appeared very favorably to the Board,” Luxenburg said.

Klein was pleased with the contract renewal.

“As an employee of the district, it certainly is helpful [to know my contract has been renewed],” Klein said. “It certainly is reassuring.”

“This just solidifies that I will have the opportunity to continue to serve for the next three years,” Klein said.

Klein hopes to continue much of what he has already started at BHS.

“I want to continue working with all members of the community, to continue improving upon the great things we have here at BHS,” he said. “The great programs that we have, the great things that our kids are doing, [and] the instruction our teachers are engaged with in their classes.”

Klein added that he hopes to continue these “very exciting times” at BHS, referring to the recent programming collaboration BHS has made with various entities, such as the medical academy partnership with University Hospitals and the agreements made with Cleveland State University for a design and innovation program.

“I’d love to continue working with staff members to provide interventions so that all of our students are successful,” Klein said.

Klein said he is glad to lead the BHS community.

“There are so many positive things that are happening here,” he said. “Our kids are engaged. Our teachers are teaching at the highest levels. We have programs that rival anywhere else and exceed anywhere else, and I want to continue [to] work with kids, work with our teachers [and] work with my colleagues, to continue enhancing and building these programs.”

“The Board largely relies upon the recommendation, input and information from the superintendent,” Luxenburg said.

He explained that Markwardt supervises Klein, and, makes recommendations to the Board regarding Klein’s employment.

“I’ve been very pleased with what I’ve seen,” Luxenburg said, regarding Klein’s performance.

“I think Mr. Klein came to our district at a good time and a bad time for him,” he said. “He came in the middle of a very large construction project, and he also stepped in to fill the position of a principal that was well-liked throughout the community.”

“[Klein] was not in an enviable position,” Luxenburg said. “I think he has risen to the occasion, made his own name for himself, is respected within the community and has done an excellent job.”

“I think any time, particularly when a new administrator comes in, and is filling the shoes of somebody who’s … not only well-liked, but still [within the district], they’re bound to have some stumbling blocks in finding their way,” he said.

“I think that, perhaps Mr. Klein experienced some of those stumbling blocks, but those are to be expected, and he stayed true to the course,” he said. “Those [difficulties] are inherent in any transition and impossible to avoid.”

Several students have expressed satisfaction with Klein’s work performance.

“He’s very, very nice — and suave,” freshman Sanford Hong said.