In August 2017, Tony Alarcon’s phone rang unexpectedly.
Like many parents, he thought it might be a telemarketer. But this time, he answered the call.
Hearing from the school can be nerve-wracking for any parent. Tony immediately started worrying—was his daughter, Demetra, okay? Had something happened?
What he found out left him surprised.
It was a hot summer day in Northern California, with temperatures reaching 90 degrees. Tony had dropped off his 13-year-old daughter, Demetra, at school that morning. She wore a blue romper to stay cool in the heat, and neither of them thought the outfit would cause any issues.
Demetra, a student at Raymond J. Fisher Middle School in Los Gatos, California, had simply dressed for the weather.
Not everyone agreed with Demetra’s outfit. A teacher at her school said her romper was “too distracting” for the boys.
When the teacher told Demetra that her outfit was too short, her dad, Tony, rushed back to the school with a change of clothes—jean shorts and a tank top. But the school said those clothes were also inappropriate.
Tony was shocked. He asked Demetra to bend over and touch her toes in front of the school administrator. “Nothing is hanging out. There’s nothing inappropriate. I don’t understand this dress code rule,” he told TODAY.
Still, the school said her clothes were “distracting.” Since it was 90 degrees outside, Tony had no choice but to go to his car and grab a pair of leggings for Demetra to wear.
Demetra felt embarrassed.
Tony expressed his frustration, saying, “She’s just a kid. She’s only 13. She’s not trying to be a sex symbol. She just wants to be comfortable and attend class, but we’re not giving her that chance.”
This wasn’t the first time Demetra had been in trouble for her clothes. Just a week before, she was called out for a visible bra strap. “When I got dress coded last week, they said my bra strap was showing,” Demetra told the *San Jose Mercury News*. “Like, I’m wearing a bra—what’s the big deal?”
Tony, a successful investment advisor and father of two, didn’t let it go. Angry at what he saw as an unfair rule that mostly targeted girls, he took his complaint to social media. Parents from all over the country showed their support, agreeing that the school’s dress code was outdated and unfair to girls.
“Demetra’s not the only one. If you sit in the school parking lot, you’ll see that,” Tony said. “Lots of girls just want to be comfortable, but they feel forced to wear leggings even when it’s 100 degrees outside.”
Tony believed that parents, not schools, should decide if their children’s clothes are appropriate. He was also worried about how being told their clothing is a “distraction” to boys could affect young girls emotionally in the long run.
The story quickly got attention from the media, with major news outlets reporting on Tony’s efforts to change the dress code. While the school didn’t speak on camera, they did release a statement:
“The Los Gatos Union School District believes that appropriate dress and grooming contribute to a productive learning environment,” the district said. “Students are expected to wear clothes that reflect the core values of our learning community.”
Tony’s efforts made an impact. His push for change led the Los Gatos Union School District to reevaluate its dress code to make it fairer and less strict for all students.
Lisa Fraser, the school’s principal, explained that the dress code rules, called “Fashion Faux Pas,” apply to both girls and boys. Some of the rules include no hats or hoods indoors, no visible underwear, no inappropriate logos or words, and shorts must have at least 4-inch inseams.
“There has always been a dress code,” Fraser told a newspaper. “These are basic rules for appropriate behavior. I can set guidelines for the school, but I want them to reflect the community’s values.”
In the end, Tony Alarcon’s persistence started an important discussion about how school dress codes affect young girls — showing that one parent’s voice can truly make a difference.
What do you think about the school’s dress code? Have you or your children faced a similar situation? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments!
“I can feel my heart breaking.” Reality TV superstar has died in a tragic car accident.
His dejected girlfriend informs him that a drag racer who had appeared on a well-known reality TV program had perished in a horrific vehicle crash.
On Saturday night in southwest Texas, Nathan Schaldach, who plays Cali Nate on the Discovery series Street Outlaws, crashed.
In a tragic Facebook post, his girlfriend Courtney Paulshock confirmed his passing and referred to him as her “soul mate.”
“I’m not whole.” On Sunday, she wrote, “I’m completely shocked.”
“I feel like my heart is breaking.”
According to Paulshock, this occurred while Schaldach was racing at Eagle Pass, which is located roughly two hours west of San Antonio.
Despite assisting him in traveling to the hospital, his friends were powerless to save his life.
Paulshock claimed that she was unwilling to provide any further details regarding the cause of the Schaldach crash or its preceeding events.
His girlfriend commented, “Seeing his mom and sister again made him so happy.”
“Outside, he pursued his passions.”
“To know the kind of love that Nathan gave me and showed me on a daily basis was a true blessing.”
Schaldach appeared in the fourth season of the television program Street Outlaws: Fastest in America, which followed eight drag racing teams as they battled for a $100,000 prize.
His season concluded in May of last year.
The original Street Outlaws, which featured insane street racers risking their lives to participate, served as the inspiration for the current program.
Drag racing involves two cars racing on a short, straight track toward a finish line.
Since street racing is so deadly, most jurisdictions have outlawed it, despite the fact that professional sports are generally safe.
In 2022, while filming Street Outlaws, Ryan Fellows, an actor on the show, lost his life in a car accident. Schaldach passed away after that.
The driver’s car overturned and caught fire in a Las Vegas race. According to a Discovery spokesperson, the loss devastated the network.
The U.S. Sun has contacted Texas police to inquire further about Nate’s collision.
“Never love someone again”
Online, Schaldach’s friends and admirers expressed their sorrow and condolences upon his unexpected passing.
Chris Frank, a friend of Schaldach’s, claimed that after learning the awful news, he barely slept at all.
“Those of you who raced him feared him, and those of you who were friends with him loved him,” Frank was heard saying in a Facebook video.
We all know that any ride could be our last, and every race is dangerous.
“One of the last genuine racers with a genuine love and comprehension for the sport was Nate.”
In one of his saddest farewell emails, Paulshock promised Schaldach that she would love him forever.
“Garth told me to tell you I love you very much just in case tomorrow never comes,” he texted his girlfriend. The driver’s final race ever was this one.
Paulshock added, “Please wake me up from this nightmare,” below a screenshot of the text exchange.
She also shared Lady Gaga’s song “I’ll Never Love Again” from the film A Star Is Born later that same day.
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