The following is a letter from the Office of Superintendent Dr. Marceline Catlett regarding the Fredericksburg City Public Schools 2025-26 Advisory Committees:
28 July 2025
Dear Parents/Guardians:
In accordance with Fredericksburg City Public School Board policy, every year the school system establishes certain advisory committees. The required committees include the Special Education Advisory Committee and the Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee. Fredericksburg City Public Schools also has decided to continue the School Health Advisory Board even though it is no longer required by the Code of Virginia. A brief description of each of these committees also accompanies this letter. Active parental participation in the work of these committees is essential to their success.
The Superintendent’s Parent Advisory Committee is not a committee authorized by FCPS Policy or the Code of Virginia. This committee is also comprised of parents/guardians to discuss issues, share concerns, and receive information that may be communicated with other parents/guardians.
On behalf of the Fredericksburg City School Board, I am inviting you, as a parent or guardian of a student in Fredericksburg City Public Schools, to volunteer to serve on one of these committees for the 2025 – 2026 school year. If you would like to be considered for a committee, please complete the enclosed form and return it Tammie Coghill-Bish, 210 Ferdinand Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 or via email at tcoghillbish@cityschools.com no later than August 15, 2025, to be considered for a committee.
Every effort is made to see that the advisory committees represent all geographic areas of our city and all segments of our parent/guardian population. We hope you will consider this opportunity to volunteer to assist in our school division.
Sincerely,
Marceline R. Catlett, Ed.D.
Division Superintendent
Advisory Committees
Special Education Advisory Committee
* Required by the Virginia Board of Education (VDOE)
(Typically meets four times per year, in the afternoon or early evening)
As required by regulations of the State Board of Education, Fredericksburg City Schools has a local Special Education Advisory Committee. The advisory committee is appointed by the School Board and serves to advise the Board through the school superintendent of the educational needs of students with disabilities. The committee is comprised of parents of disabled students, school personnel, community agencies and persons with disabilities.
Career & Technical Education Advisory Committee
*Required by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE)
(Typically meets two to three times per year, in the morning)
As required by regulations of the State Board of Education, Fredericksburg City Schools has a local Career & Technical Education Advisory Committee composed of parents, students, school personnel, representatives from local business and industries, representatives from the community college system, and community members. The purpose of this committee is to advise the School Board through the superintendent of the educational needs of all Career and Technical education students. The advisory committee annually conducts a review of the local Career and Technical Education plan and when necessary, may submit recommendations for Career and Technical Education through the superintendent to the School Board.
School Health Advisory Board
(Typically meets four times per year, in the morning)
Fredericksburg City Schools has established a School Health Advisory Board comprised of community representatives, parents, students and school personnel. As set forth in its by-laws, the School Health Advisory Board meets quarterly and serves “to assist with the development of health policy in the school division and the evaluation of the status of school health, health education, the school environment and health services”. There are up to four subcommittees that you could choose to participate in as part of the Board.
Superintendent's Parent Advisory Committee
(Typically meets monthly, in the evening)
The Superintendent has established a Parent Advisory Committee to discuss issues and resolve concerns of parents. This committee is not a requirement of the State Board of Education nor the Fredericksburg City School Board.
Please review the information and return the form to Tammie Coghill-Bish at the Office of the Superintendent no later than Friday, August 15, 2025.