Birmingham Public Schools board appoints Omar O'Day to vacant seat after Saturday interviews

The Birmingham Public Schools Board of Education on Saturday appointed Omar O'Day to fill a seat vacated earlier this year, voting 4–2 to approve Resolution 54 after a day of public candidate interviews and trustee deliberations.

Trustees began the morning by approving the consent agenda (Resolution 53) and then heard an overview of the selection process from Superintendent Dr. Roberson, who said the district received 24 applications and advanced nine candidates who scored an average of 14 or higher. A district consultant briefed trustees on standardized interview protocols intended to reduce bias: asking the same questions verbatim to each finalist, timing answers, avoiding added context, and keeping notes factual because they become public record.

The board interviewed multiple finalists in public sessions scheduled for approximately 25 minutes per candidate. Candidates emphasized a range of priorities. In his interview, Omar O'Day described local ties and a career at Ford Motor Company, and said the board should prioritize student outcomes, financial planning and preparing students for a changing economy. "I want to be a part of the process to try to make it the best place possible for students to succeed and thrive," O'Day said during his interview.

After the interviews, trustees recessed and then moved into deliberations. Dr. Roberson asked trustees to identify the two candidates they believed would best complement the board; trustees then discussed attributes they valued—student focus, governance experience, fiscal understanding, community engagement and a willingness to work as part of a unified body. Trustees counted top-two preferences and narrowed the field to four finalists before naming their top candidate for a formal motion.

During deliberations some trustees raised concerns about individual candidates' ability to meet outside commitments and the time demands that accompany board service. Trustee Joseph said he could not support a candidate he believed might not be able to commit the necessary time; others noted that candidates had affirmed their willingness to prioritize board duties if appointed.

Trustee Angeloune moved to consider Resolution 54 for candidate letter E; the motion was seconded and, after brief discussion, the board voted. The motion carried 4–2. The chair announced the appointed trustee by name: Omar O'Day.

The board provided practical details about the seat's term during the interviews: Dr. Roberson clarified that the appointed term will end in November (with the position on the ballot in November) and, if elected, the replacement would serve a full four-year term ending December 2030. The board thanked all applicants and staff who organized the process before adjourning at 2:30 p.m.

The appointment is effective immediately; the board did not record individual roll-call votes by name in the public record excerpted in the meeting transcript.