Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Houghton-Portage Township Superintendent Anders Hill discusses a suit filed in federal court against social-media companies alleging detrimental effects to children. The district board voted Monday to join the suit.

HOUGHTON — Houghton-Portage Township Schools will join a nationwide federal suit against social media platforms.

The board voted unanimously Monday night to join the suit against Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and other platforms, which Seattle Public Schools and other districts filed in January in the Northern District of California.

“I think every school administrator can say that we spend time on dealing with the negative effects of social media on a daily basis,” Superintendent Anders Hill said. “…I feel this is in the best interest of our district to do this. And I think social media and the way it’s been marketed to our youth has done a disservice to them and has some negative impacts.”

Frantz Law Group, a California firm representing schools in the lawsuit, reached out to Thrun Law Firm to find Michigan schools interested in joining. Frantz is also representing more than 125 Michigan schools in a nationwide vaping suit.

“The lawsuit asserts that social media companies targeted minors to maximize profits despite knowing the severe detrimental effects excessive social media use causes to minors,” Thrun said in a letter to the board.

Thrun cited research associating social media use with increased rates of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, suicide and property damage.

The suit seeks payments for past damages faced by schools, such as property damage done by students engaging in social media trends or lost state aid from a reduced headcount brought on by social media-related suspensions or expulsions.

It also seeks compensation for counselors, educational programming and other steps needed to handle any future damages.

It will not cost the district anything to join the suit, Hill said. Frantz and Thrun will receive a combined 25% of any funds granted in the verdict.

In other action, the board:

• Approved hiring Micah Stipech as varsity hockey coach. He replaces Corey Markham, who is retiring after 25 years.

“His resume speaks for itself as a coach,” Hill said of Stipech. “I believe it’s multiple national championships in hockey as a coach, and we’re excited that he was interested.”

• Approved ticket prices for 2023-24 athletic events. The only increases were to single-game prices. The district also added free admittance for veterans and active military.

This is the first price increase in four or five years, said Athletic Director John Sanregret.

Single-game prices for high school games will go from $5 to $7 for adults and from $3 to $4 for students and senior citizens. At the middle school, prices will be $5 and $2, respectively. Family passes will be $20.

Other prices are $250 for an eight-person family pass, $175 for a four-person family pass, $125 for an adult couple pass, $25 for a student pass, $30 for an individual senior citizen, $75 for an individual adult pass, $50 for a senior citizen pass for two.

• Approved contracting with CESA 10, an intermediate school district in Wisconsin, for a facility audit and Sanfred Consultants for an enrollment projection study. The audit will cost about $31,000, Hill said.

• Approved the purchase of pool filters. Two of the pool’s six filters, more than 20 years old, have been patched and continue to leak, Hill said. Replacement will cost about $25,000.

• Approved the purchase of a scissor lift for $15,000.

• Accepted the bid from Johnson Controls to replace the fire panel in the high/middle school building. The current panel is running at about 40% effectiveness and beyond repair, Hill said. It had been in place since the high school was built in 1989.