Candidates file to run for local school boards

Four candidates have filed to run for two open seats on the Birmingham Public Schools Board of Education, and seven candidates have filed to run for three open seats on Bloomfield Hills Schools Board of Education. Birmingham Board of Education seats are six-year terms; Bloomfield Hills Schools are four-year terms. The filing deadline was July 21. In Birmingham, incumbent board member Lori Ajluny, currently board vice president, is running for re-election. Also running in Birmingham for one of the two open seats are Luke Joseph, Samuel Oh and Nash Salami. Brian Jennings, current board treasurer, whose term expires in November, is not running for another term. Three long-term trustees in Bloomfield Hills are stepping down from the seven-member board. Cynthia von Oeyen, currently board vice president, has been on the board for 22 years. Trustee Jacqueline El-Sayed and trustee Mark Bank are both completing their second four-year term. Running to replace them in three open seats are seven new candidates: Dima El-Gamal, Nicholas Haugen, Renita James, Siva Kumar, Michelle Southward, Jonathon VanGemert and Samuel Walker. All candidates will be on the November general election ballot.