Socorro ISD board votes to join multi-district social-media litigation over student impact; one trustee dissents
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Summary
The board approved a resolution and a contingent-fee agreement to join multi-district litigation about youth social-media usage, despite a trustee's warning that litigation shifts responsibility from families and risks loss of local control; legal firms named in the agreement will represent the district under contingency terms.
Trustees voted Wednesday to adopt a resolution and to enter a contingent-fee legal-services agreement to participate in multi-district litigation addressing youth social-media usage.
The first vote approved findings required for expedited review by the Texas attorney general; the second authorized entering agreements with Thompson & Horton LLP, Island & Bonin PC, and O'Hanlon, Demerath & Castillo PC to represent the district on a contingency-fee basis.
"I motion that the board of trustees adopt a resolution approving the contingent fee legal services contract that includes the findings required by Texas Government Code 2,254, subchapter C," a trustee moved. The motion passed by voice vote; a later motion to enter the contingent-fee agreement also passed after discussion and a second.
Trustee Woodcraft (recorded in the transcript as a dissenting voice) said he sympathized with concerns about student mental health but could not support joining the lawsuit. He argued the approach shifts responsibility away from families and local policy, surrendering key decisions to outside attorneys, risking years of litigation and uncertain financial returns.
"If social media is a problem in our schools, then the solution is within our authority," he said, noting he would vote no because litigation is unpredictable and may cede control of strategy and settlement decisions to outside counsel.
Other trustees supported the move, saying the litigation is a way to seek accountability for companies whose platforms they say contribute to harms among students. The board approved both the resolution and the agreements; the transcript records at least one recorded 'nay' voice but does not list a roll-call tally by name.
The agreements commit the district to work with outside counsel on matters concerning youth social-media use and related litigation. The board did not discuss financial details of anticipated recovery at the meeting; motions and supporting materials were provided to trustees in the packet and closed-session briefing.
Next procedural steps will include executing the contracts and coordinating with participating districts and counsel on any required submissions for expedited Attorney General review.
