Mt Vernon board votes to join class-action litigation against social media companies

The Mt Vernon Community School Corporation board voted unanimously to adopt Resolution 2026-11, authorizing the district to join a class-action lawsuit against social media companies that district leaders say have designed products that contribute to student behavioral and mental-health challenges.

Administration described the litigation as a contingency arrangement undertaken at no direct cost to the district. Mr. Elkins told the board the legal theory is that platform design choices made products addictive and that schools bear downstream costs to address resulting behavioral and social-emotional needs. He said attorneys typically seek compensatory and punitive damages and are compensated on contingency if there is a judgment.

Board members asked practical questions about how any recovered funds would be used. One board member asked whether the district has predetermined uses for any recovery; Mr. Elkins said an appropriate use would be to reimburse expenditures tied to behavioral programming but that any decision would depend on who occupies the seats and the circumstances if a recovery ever occurs.

The board noted other Indiana districts have already joined similar litigation and that the effort is growing nationally. The board approved joining the litigation by voice vote, recorded as 5-0 in favor.

The board’s action authorizes district counsel to execute the accompanying agreement with the law firm coordinating the litigation on behalf of Indiana school corporations. No timeline for potential outcomes was provided; administration cautioned any recovery, if it occurs, could take years and be subject to appeals.

Next steps: the district will sign the engagement documents and allow the lead firm and district counsel to coordinate the litigation process.