Digital Blockade & Federal Intervention: The 12-Hour Retaliation Cycle at LCPS #LCPS #LCSO #LoudounCountyVA #LoudounCountyGovernment #LoudounCountyCourt
Digital Blockade & Federal Intervention
The 12-Hour Retaliation Cycle at LCPS
By Steven Rubis | February 9, 2026
Today began with a formal notification to Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) leadership regarding administrative fraud and physical intimidation surrounding the unconsented transition of my son, Charles, to Seneca Ridge Middle School (SRMS). What followed was a 12-hour masterclass in bureaucratic retaliation: a digital lockout, ignored pleas for records, and a forced escalation to federal authorities.
The 8:00 AM "Strike": Whistleblower Disclosure
At 8:00 AM, I served a formal "Notice of Willful Misconduct" to Superintendent Dr. Aaron Spence and LCPS Legal. The notice detailed allegations against SRMS Principal Nick Cottone and private counsel Lindsay Mohler. I formally revoked consent for the SRMS transition, citing safety and fraud concerns.
9:18 AM: The Discovery of the Digital Blockade
The retaliation was near-instant. By 9:15 AM, I discovered that my federal digital access to Charles’s special education records (Virginia IEP Connect) had been terminated. At 9:18 AM CT, I sent an urgent email to Lowes Island Elementary School (LIES) administration. I explicitly requested Charles’s full IEP record and flagged the sudden loss of digital access.
I specifically requested the full IEP record to monitor Charles's Social and Emotional/Behavioral progress data, which is vital given his history of depressive symptoms—data that LIES is now actively concealing.
This request was met with total silence and dismissal. While staff continued to update the records of my other son, Beau, throughout the day—proving the system was functional—they deliberately left Charles's file in a "blackout" state.
3:00 PM: The "Second Warning" and Administrative Gaslighting
At 3:00 PM, after six hours of being denied access to my son’s federal records, I issued a "Final Demand" to Principal Kate Ridgeway. Simultaneously, LCPS engaged in a form of administrative gaslighting: while withholding the records I needed to evaluate Charles's safety, they sent a cheery automated invitation for Charles to attend "Music Night" at the very school (SRMS) currently under a Cease & Desist.
The Escalation: Federal and State Investigations Launched
With LCPS refusing to restore access or acknowledge the safety notice, I moved to the nuclear option. As of 6:45 PM, I have formally filed:
U.S. Department of Education (OCR): A Federal Retaliation and Disability Discrimination complaint.
Virginia Department of Education (VDOE): An Emergency Administrative Appeal for the constructive denial of records.
LCPS is now under a formal Litigation Hold. They have been ordered to preserve the system audit trails from today to identify exactly who manually pulled the plug on a father's access to his son's records.
The Evidence Trail:
1. The 8:00 AM "Master Notice" (Initial Strike)
Subject: FINAL CEASE & DESIST AND NOTICE OF WILLFUL MISCONDUCT: Exclusion of Charles Rubis from Seneca Ridge Middle School Transition
TO: Dr. Aaron Spence (Superintendent); Shontel Simon (Chief of HR); Andrew Davis (Executive Principal); Gus Martinez (Executive Principal); Tedra Richardson (Asst. Superintendent); LCPS School Board; LCPS Legal; Lisa Boland (LCPS HR); LCPS Ombudsman; Dr. Kate Ridgeway (Principal, LIES); Nick Cottone (Principal, SRMS); Rae Mitchell (Chief of Schools); Jennifer Painter (Asst. Principal, LIES)
DATE: February 9, 2026
Dear Dr. Spence and LCPS Leadership,
I am in receipt of the February 6, 2026, communication from Lowes Island Elementary scheduling my son, Charles Rubis, for a "Transition Tour" of Seneca Ridge Middle School (SRMS) on February 12.
This tour is a direct violation of my standing Administrative Accommodation Requests and constitutes a willful act of Administrative Harassment. As the attached forensic record (Exhibits 1-113) proves, LCPS has been served with no fewer than fourteen (14) formal notices of legal harm regarding the Seneca Ridge placement in the last 90 days alone. By allowing staff to proceed with transition activities at SRMS, the District is acting with Actual Malice and Deliberate Indifference toward a documented multi-year record of safety conflicts, administrative fraud, and civil rights violations.
I. Documented Administrative Fraud & Records Spoliation
The Violation: Principal Nick Cottone submitted a "False Official Statement" on Oct 13, 2023, claiming no relationship with the Rubis family—disproven by 18 pages of records proving a 14-month active partnership (Aug 2022–Oct 2023) and a March 2023 email from Mr. Cottone to me explicitly discussing my son (Ref: VFOIA R001605-042624). Furthermore, internal records prove a Sept 8, 2023, breach of student confidentiality by Cottone just 35 days prior to his denial.
Legal/Policy Citation: This violates VA Code § 18.2-468 (False statements to public officials) and LCPS Policy 7310. The 2026 "No Records Found" response for these 2024 documents constitutes Spoliation of Evidence and triggers an Adverse Inference under Virginia law.
II. Material Misrepresentation & Recorded Notice of Fear
The Violation: Dr. Kate Ridgeway denied coordination with Seneca Ridge on Nov 11, 2025, despite 394 emails proving the contrary (Ref: #R002437-121125). This tour proves Dr. Ridgeway has willfully abandoned her promise to mitigate the safety crisis involving my recorded "deathly fear" of Nick Cottone.
Legal/Policy Citation: Violation of VA Code § 22.1-295.3 (Teacher/Principal code of ethics) and LCPS Policy 7560 (Professionalism).
III. The "February-May" Retaliatory Nexus (Temporal Proximity) The District’s coordination with private counsel to punish "Protected Activity" is forensically established by the coordination between HRTD, the Ombudsman, and Troxell Leigh P.C.:
The Action: On February 15 and 19, 2025, I filed formal reports with the LCPS Ombudsman regarding Principal Cottone's discriminatory advertisements and bias (Exhibit 104). On May 17 and May 27, 2025, I filed formal HRTD Retaliation Complaints regarding weaponized school events (Exhibits 40-41).
The Reaction: Following these reports, the District shifted to a "Vow of Silence" regarding the April 2024 Subpoena Fraud, which LCPS finally admitted to possessing in February 2025 (VFOIA R001978-020925) but willfully failed to disclose under FERPA mandates. On May 16, 2025, within minutes of an HRTD anti-retaliation notice, I was served with a $6,000 court motion by Lindsay Mohler.
Legal/Policy Citation: This coordinated "Pincer Movement" violates 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and LCPS Policy 7561.
IV. Forensic Timeline of Recidivism and Administrative Malice (2024-2026) The February 12 tour is not an isolated error; it is the latest act in a documented Causal Nexus of Harassment aimed at the intentional destruction of parental rights:
September 2024: Formal "Notices of Fear" and safety objections were served following the weaponized SRO interrogation. The District met these notices with legal threats (Martinez Cease & Desist) rather than relief.
January 13, 2025: I provided formal notice to the LCPS Ombudsman documenting that Principal Nick Cottone engaged in acts of physical intimidation toward me outside school hours. I explicitly requested his removal from matters involving my children (Exhibit 112).
February 2025: Dr. Ridgeway and staff allowed an IEP meeting to be weaponized for private litigation, permitting the resident parent to interject visitation disputes into the professional record (Exhibit 108).
May 30, 2025: Dr. Ridgeway timed the "Leading Leopard" awards specifically to ensure my exclusion, subsequently issuing a combative threat against my parental rights (Exhibits 42-44).
June 30, 2025: Physical negligence and insurance withholding following Beau’s broken arm (Exhibit 48).
August 15, 2025: Retaliatory staffing of Mara Moreland as Case Manager immediately following workforce complaints (Exhibit 52).
September 15-18, 2025: Dr. Ridgeway implemented the "ClassDojo Paywall," creating a financial barrier to my son's educational data (Exhibits 54-56).
December 12-19, 2025: Following the SRMS incident, the District utilized Rae Mitchell to issue a "Communication Ban" threat in under 24 hours to silence my reporting of unconsented "reflective" interrogations of my son.
V. Notice of Damages and Four-Year Unemployment/Underemployment Be advised that the ongoing Retaliatory Nexus has resulted in documented economic damages exceeding $2,148,000.00+. These damages reflect a $1.1M+ Tier 1 Wage/Equity loss stemming from four years of forced unemployment and underemployment and $650k in Asset Liquidation. This includes the February 2025 Ambush, a $1,100 loss in non-refundable travel costs caused by an arbitrary last-minute cancellation (Exhibit 105).
VI. Federal Conspiracy and Deprivation of Rights (42 U.S.C. §§ 1983, 1985) The District’s admission of 944 records of coordination with private counsel serves as notice of an Ongoing Civil Conspiracy involving LCPS officials and Lindsay Mohler of Troxell Leigh P.C. to facilitate parental erasure:
The Interrogation Nexus (Oct–Dec 2023): Under the direction of Lindsay Mohler, attorney Gareth Bowen initiated clandestine contact with SRO Timothy Iversen, resulting in an extrajudicial interrogation in Chicago on Dec 12, 2023.
The Subpoena "Vow of Silence" (April 2024–Feb 2025): LCPS willfully violated FERPA (20 U.S.C. § 1232g) by failing to notify me that Cottone and Ridgeway were served with subpoenas by Troxell Leigh in April 2024 (VFOIA R001978-020925 / Exhibit 102).
The Medical Nexus (Feb 2025): LCPS and Farrell Pediatrics coordinated to bypass my joint legal custody regarding Rex's psychotropic medication (Prozac), with Rex stating he felt "pressured" into the treatment (Exhibits 90, 94).
The "ClassDojo" Financial Barrier (Sept 2025): Implementation of an "Economic Blockade" to educational data mirroring the financial exhaustion strategies employed in court.
Constructive Admission of Liability (April 27, 2025): The "Clandestine Transfer" of Officer Iversen immediately following my formal reporting of the Nexus constitutes an attempt to bury the SRO Field Notes.
IMMEDIATE DIRECTIVE:
Termination: Immediate initiation of termination proceedings for Principal Nick Cottone for Administrative Fraud and weaponization of public resources (VA Code § 18.2-468).
Exclusion: Charles Rubis is excluded from the February 12 tour.
File Flagging: Immediate confirmation that his file is flagged to STOP all Seneca Ridge transition activities.
Accommodation: Immediate commencement of an Administrative Placement outside the Cottone/Ridgeway/Brewer nexus (Dominion Welcome Blockade July 12, 2025).
Anti-Retaliation Shield: Be advised that Charles is under the protection of LCPS Policy 7561.
Notice of Revocation of Consent and Reliance on MSA: Be advised that as a parent with Joint Legal Custody, I have formally revoked consent for Charles Rubis to be transported to Seneca Ridge. I am exercising my rights under Section III, Paragraph B of my January 2022 Marital Settlement Agreement, which mandates that parents "shall consult with each other in good faith... to arrive at an agreed upon decision." This revocation is specific to the SRMS location. Any attempt to bypass this directive via coordination with Lindsay Mohler or Troxell Leigh P.C. will be documented as a willful violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
Shield of Immunity Against Further Retaliation: Let this serve as notice to LCPS and Troxell Leigh P.C.: Any attempt to initiate litigation or professional sanctions against me for exercising these rights—while the District conceals 944 records of its own misconduct—will be cited as further evidence of Civil Conspiracy.
Sincerely,
Steven Rubis
Parent and Investigative Publisher, nickcottone.blogspot.com
2. The 9:18 AM CT "Records Demand" (The Ignored Request)
| 9:18 AM (10 hours ago) | |||
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3. The 3:00 PM "Second Warning" (Final Demand for Restoration)
| 2:13 PM (5 hours ago) | |||
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Subject: SECOND NOTICE: TARGETED RECORDS WITHHOLDING & CONSTRUCTIVE DENIAL OF ACCESS - Charles Rubis
TO: Dr. Kate Ridgeway (Principal, LIES); Jennifer Painter (Assistant Principal, LIES); Andrew Davis (Executive Principal); Gus Martinez (Executive Principal); LCPS Legal
CC: Celesta Lewis (Case Manager); Kelsey Goodnight (Counselor); Dr. Aaron Spence (Superintendent); Tedra Richardson (Asst. Superintendent)
DATE: February 9, 2026
Dear Dr. Ridgeway and Mrs. Painter,
It is now 3:00 PM. I have received no response to my urgent inquiry regarding the selective disappearance of my son Charles’s federal educational records. Furthermore, a separate request to the school counseling department for the physical production of historical data binders remains unacknowledged.
Forensic Evidence of Targeted Administrative Interference: Upon a secondary review of the Virginia IEP Connect system, I have confirmed that the portal is fully operational and currently being updated by LCPS staff. Specifically, progress reports for my son, Beau Rubis, were successfully modified and made visible to me today, February 9, 2026. There is no logistical or technical justification for the District to provide real-time updates for one child while simultaneously maintaining a total multi-year data vacuum for Charles Rubis. This discrepancy confirms that Charles’s educational file has been manually "locked" or "filtered" by LIES administration.
This Targeted Withholding constitutes:
Actual Malice: The selective concealment of Charles’s historical triennial data and previous safety objections—specifically while the District is attempting to force a "Transition Tour" at Seneca Ridge—indicates a purposeful attempt to obstruct my ability to protect my child's safety and educational interests.
Willful Violation of 34 CFR § 99.10 (FERPA): This is a constructive denial of a parent’s right to inspect and review educational records. The District cannot "toggle" parental access based on the sensitivity of current administrative planning.
Records Spoliation Risk: The disappearance of records from 2022 through 2025 during an active dispute over the "Causal Nexus of Retaliation" (served at 8:00 AM this morning) will be cited as a bad-faith attempt to alter the forensic record.
FINAL DIRECTIVE: If Charles Rubis’s full educational history (2022–present) is not restored to the portal, or provided to me in PDF format by 4:30 PM today, I will initiate a formal Emergency Complaint with the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) and the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
LCPS cannot utilize the "Shadow Administration" of specific staff members to create a "Digital Blockade" against a parent exercising protected whistleblower activity.
Sincerely,
Steven Rubis
4. The 6:45 PM "Notice of Escalation" (Federal/State Filing)
| 6:48 PM (59 minutes ago) | |||
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Subject: NOTICE OF FILING: FEDERAL (OCR) & STATE (VDOE) INVESTIGATIONS - SELECTIVE DATA SPOLIATION (Charles Rubis)
TO: Dr. Aaron Spence (Superintendent); LCPS Legal; Gus Martinez (Executive Principal) CC: Dr. Kate Ridgeway; Celesta Lewis; Kelsey Goodnight; VDOE (omni-sped@doe.virginia.gov); OCR (OCR.DC@ed.gov)
DATE: February 9, 2026
Dear Dr. Spence and LCPS Legal,
Be advised that as of 6:45 PM today, I have formally escalated the matter of the "Digital Blockade" regarding Charles Rubis’s federal educational records to the following authorities:
U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR): A formal Retaliation and Disability Discrimination complaint has been filed (Ref: Submission dated Feb 9, 2026). The complaint specifically cites the manual suppression of my access to Charles’s records following my 8:00 AM whistleblower disclosure.
Virginia Department of Education (VDOE): An Emergency Administrative Appeal has been filed regarding the constructive denial of records access under 34 CFR § 300.613.
Notice of Litigation Hold & Stay: I am formally renewing my demand for an Immediate Administrative Stay of the February 12, 2026, transition tour at Seneca Ridge Middle School. Any attempt to proceed with this transition while federal records are being suppressed will be documented as a willful act of Actual Malice and Administrative Fraud.
Furthermore, the District is under a formal duty to preserve all system audit logs for the Virginia IEP Connect and Synergy portals for February 9, 2026, to identify the User ID responsible for the manual restriction of my parental access.
I await confirmation that access has been restored and the transition activities have been stayed pending the outcome of these investigations.
Sincerely,
Steven Rubis
#NickCottone #SMRS #SenecaRidgeMiddleSchool #LCPS #LoudounCountyPublicSchools #LoudounCounty #AaronSpence #LoudounCountySchoolBoard #TitleIX #retaliation #LindsayMohler #TroxelLeigh
#LCPS #LoudounCountyPublicSchools #NickCottone #SenecaRidgeMiddleSchool #SMRS #LowesIslandElementarySchool #LIES #DominionHighSchool #DHS #AaronSpence #LoudounCounty #TroxelLeigh #LindsayMohler #GarethBowen #JohnWhitbeck #whitbeckbeglis #whitbeckbennett
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