A school board meeting in Maine descended into chaos after a board member slapped a phone out of an attendee’s hand during a heated exchange.
Tensions flared during a Regional School Unit 67 meeting on Wednesday night when Tim Bodnar, a social media personality, targeted a teacher.
The unknown teacher was placed on leave last week over comments they made about the killing of Charlie Kirk, with an investigation pending.
Bodnar, known online as the ‘Truth-slinger’ and followed by tens of thousands on social media, repeatedly disrupted the otherwise orderly meeting.
He condemned the teacher and accused the district of allowing ‘communist propaganda’ in schools.
Following the initial prayer, Bodnar swiftly intensified the situation by vociferously criticizing the teacher by name and challenging the board’s lack of action.
Board Chair Dianne Buck then repeatedly struck her gavel and called for order.
‘You can bang that all you want, lady,’ Bodnar replied, ignoring calls to follow board rules.
The school board meeting in Maine devolved into chaos when Andrew Funaro, a school board member, knocked a phone out of Tim Bodnar’s hand.
During Wednesday night’s heated school board meeting, an upset attendee directed his frustration toward a teacher recently put on leave for remarks about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Buck then called a recess, but when the board reconvened, Bodnar resumed speaking and again raised his voice.
‘I demand counseling for the kids who were hurt by Charlie Kirk’s death that (the teacher) dissed,’ he said.
‘He can have free speech, he just can’t have a job on taxpayer money!’ he continued, as the comment drew applause from the audience.
Bodnar only continued to escalate, this time accusing Buck of ignoring him.
‘You’re a foul, evil woman! You’re a coward!’ he shouted just as board member Andrew Funaro interjected in defense of the school board chair.
‘Don’t you insult that woman!’ Funaro said.
‘Why not?’ Bodnar shot back.
‘Because she’s doing the best she can, and you don’t know what we think,’ Funaro said. ‘We haven’t made a decision yet.’
‘You should have made a decision when you found out!’ Bodnar yelled.
Bodnar, who is widely recognized online as the ‘Truth-slinger’ with a significant social media following, continually disrupted the meeting, accusing the district of permitting ‘communist propaganda’ in schools.
The situation only continued to unravel. At one point, Bodnar was in front of Funaro filming him, Funaro then slapped the phone from Bodnar’s hand
Bodnar has a history of confrontations at public meetings
‘We found out on Friday,’ Funaro replied. ‘We’re doing the best we can.’
‘It’s too slow,’ Bodnar said. ‘The world is moving on way too fast for you, old man!’
The board abruptly recessed again and when they returned, they attempted to resume business, including reports from committees.
However, escalating the already volatile atmosphere, another individual began speaking out of order, prompting police officers to surround him and request his departure.
As this happened, Bodnar returned to the front of the room with his phone out, filming the interaction.
As the board tried again to continue, this time with the student representative’s report, Bodnar interrupted again.
‘You know I’m right, sir,’ he said to Funaro.
“I do not know you’re right!” Funaro retorted. “You should go back down south and get some more clicks on your little YouTube. Isn’t that what this is about?”
Police quickly intervened, stepping between the two men
Bodnar has since taken to social media to share his perspective on the heated back-and-forth. ‘PROUDEST MOMENT OF MY LIFE RIGHT THERE,’ he wrote in a post accompanied by a video of the shouting match
The situation continued to unravel. Board members stood from their seats, and the audio from the livestream cut out.
When it eventually resumed, Bodnar was in front of Funaro filming him. Funaro then slapped the phone from Bodnar’s hand, sparking a loud crowd reaction.
Police quickly intervened, stepping between the two men. The board, visibly shaken, voted by a show of hands to adjourn the meeting.
Bodnar has since taken to social media to share his perspective on the heated back-and-forth.
‘PROUDEST MOMENT OF MY LIFE RIGHT THERE,’ he wrote in a post accompanied by a video of the shouting match.
‘The Holy Spirit of GOD indwelt me… I dropped my arms and let God fight my battle. Funaro withered in the presence of a REAL MAN,’ the post continued.
In another post, Bodnar took aim at the school and the local town.
‘Lots of people afraid… not just me… ‘ he wrote, adding, ‘RSU#67 is a JOKE. The Town of Lincoln isn’t looking too good at the moment either. No replies to my FOAA requests for all communications between Brewer, Krause, the SB and Town Council.’
The district’s investigation into the teacher’s comments remains ongoing.
