Three candidates ran unopposed for Birmingham Public Schools Board of Education seats in the Nov. 3 general election.
Keely Crimando and Omar Odeh each ran for six-year terms, and Toni Bassett ran for a partial term ending Dec. 31, 2030, according to Oakland County’s official candidate list. They were the only candidates listed for those seats.
The county’s unofficial returns, updated Nov. 4, showed Crimando with 16,742 votes, Odeh with 13,260 and Bassett with 15,884. All precincts were reporting. Results remain unofficial until canvassing and certification are complete.
District voters also considered a $240 million facilities and safety bond proposal. The county’s unofficial returns showed 22,229 yes votes and 11,452 no votes, with 66% supporting it.
The official ballot language allows bond series lasting no more than 20 years and says annual debt millage is expected to remain at or below 3.80 mills, the rate levied in 2026.
About the candidates
Crimando said in her candidate questionnaire that she has worked in mortgages and financial services for more than 10 years. She holds an MBA in information systems management from Wayne State University and serves on Oxford High School’s Career and Technical Education Advisory Board. She and her husband, Michael, are raising two daughters who attend Birmingham Public Schools.
Bassett is a licensed attorney and stay-at-home mother of six. She is a graduate of Wayne State University and Wayne State University Law School. She cited eight years of PTA leadership across multiple units in the district as preparation for the board role. She reported no previous elected or appointed office, according to her questionnaire.
Odeh was appointed to the board in January after the board interviewed candidates on Jan. 24 and voted to fill a vacancy, according to Downtown Publications. That vacancy opened when Trustee Jason Tejani resigned effective Dec. 31, 2025. Board President Jennifer Rass said at the time that Tejani had received a professional promotion, according to Downtown Publications.
What the bond means
The district’s bond plan identifies projects including replacement roofs, flooring, boilers and playground equipment; upgrades to security cameras and emergency communications; and expansion of the Midvale Early Childhood Center. It was the largest school bond on the Oakland County ballot, according to the Oakland Press.
The next regular board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, at the district’s Education and Administration Center, 31301 Evergreen Road in Beverly Hills, according to the district’s meeting calendar.
