Maine school board meeting erupts in chaos as attendee challenges teacher tied to Charlie Kirk remarks

A Regional School Unit 67 meeting in Lincoln, Maine, devolved into chaos Wednesday night as an online activist targeted a district teacher who had been placed on leave last week pending an investigation into comments about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Tim Bodnar, a social media personality known online as the “Truth-slinger,” repeatedly disrupted the session, broadcasting segments and taunting board members as the rest of the room struggled to maintain order.

The meeting opened with a prayer, after which Bodnar directed his comments toward the unnamed teacher and the district, accusing it of allowing what he called communist propaganda in schools. Board Chair Dianne Buck attempted to keep the discussion on track, repeatedly calling for order as Bodnar pressed his points. The chair warned attendees about following board rules, but Bodnar pressed on, arguing that the district needed to take immediate action. The exchange drew applause from some in the audience and drew sharp rebukes from others who urged decorum.

As the tension mounted, Buck recessed the meeting, a move that did little to quell the uproar when the board reconvened. Bodnar resumed speaking and again raised his voice, insisting that students require better counseling in the wake of Kirk’s death and accusing the district of dithering over a decision. “I demand counseling for the kids who were hurt by Charlie Kirk's death that (the teacher) dissed,” he said, adding that free speech should be balanced against the teacher’s employment when it involves taxpayer-funded schools.

The confrontation escalated when board member Andrew Funaro interjected in defense of Buck. Bodnar directed insults at Buck, prompting Funaro to defend the chair and remind Bodnar that no final decision had been made. The two men traded barbs as Bodnar accused the board of delay and Buck of inattention. Bodnar’s online followers amplified the scene as he posted video clips and declarations about his side of the encounter, including claims that the district was failing students and ceding to outside pressure.

Police eventually stepped in as the dispute spilled into a broader disruption. At one point Bodnar filmed Funaro at close range, and Funaro responded by slapping Bodnar’s phone from his hand. Officers positioned themselves between the two men as other attendees pressed for order. The room grew tense enough that several people were escorted out of the meeting by officers, and the audio livestream cut out for a period before resuming.

When the board attempted to continue with routine business, including committee reports and the student representative’s update, another speaker interrupted from the floor. Officers again moved to remove the individual, while Bodnar returned to the front of the room and continued recording. After more interruptions, members stood to vote by a show of hands to adjourn the meeting. Bodnar later posted on social media describing the moment as a personal victory, but it was not clear how the district would proceed with the ongoing investigation into the teacher’s comments.

The incident underscores ongoing tensions around governance, transparency, and online activism at public school meetings. Bodnar, who has a track record of confrontations at public meetings, has leveraged social media to broadcast and amplify disagreements with school officials. In a post after the event, he described the moment as the “proudest” of his life and criticized the district for what he characterized as slow decisions.

Officials from RSU 67 said the district’s investigation into the teacher’s comments is ongoing, and there has been no announced resolution as of now. Local authorities emphasized that the school system remains committed to safety and orderly proceedings, even as demonstrators and onlookers continue to participate in public meetings in ways that reflect increasingly visible online activism surrounding education policy.