Hadley Schools Votes to Join Social Media Lawsuit

School Committee · Meeting of October 26, 2026

Hadley School Committee voted 4-0 to hire attorneys and join a growing list of Massachusetts districts suing social media companies over student mental health harm. Chair Humera Fasihuddin, Vice Chair Paul Phifer, and members Tara Brugger and Ethan Percy voted yes after an executive session with the committee's attorney, identified as Attorney Shinoff. Superintendent Anne McKenzie said the district would join "at least 20 other Massachusetts schools" already suing, with 30 more considering it.

Separately, the committee heard a pitch from town health officials and Tapestry Health to install public naloxone boxes at five town sites, including outside Hopkins Academy, though the actual approval rests with the Hadley Board of Health. Business Manager Chris reported the Hopkins locker room renovation is delayed until at least November 24 by a shower-stall supply shortage, after a contractor had earlier promised a November 16 finish.

In the full story:

• Naloxone Distribution Boxes (Item 5A)
• Executive Session and the Social Media Lawsuit Vote
• Foundation Budget Review Commission and Rural Schools Storyboard Project (Item 5B)
• Superintendent Weekly Updates
• HVAC Next Steps
• Building Project Updates: Stage and Locker Room
• Business Manager Report: Revolving Accounts, Grants and Asset Disposition
• Action Items
• School Committee Updates and Announcements
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 2,387 words

Source: the School Committee meeting of October 26, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.