OMAHA- Critics say the Buffett Early Childhood Institute promoted the controversial critical race theory in webinars it held this spring for Omaha-area educators. But institute officials say that the webinars provided a safe and welcoming forum for educators in Douglas and Sarpy Counties to discuss racial issues and that the content was “anti-racist” but not critical race theory.

“Do we teach critical race theory? The answer is no,” said Erin Owen, the institute’s director of communications and marketing. The dispute triggered an emotional outpouring Thursday evening as supporters and critics of the theory and its tenets packed a meeting of the coordinating council of the Learning Community of Douglas and Sarpy Counties.

Learning Community Council member Tim Hall, one of the critics, posted his concerns about the webinars on Facebook before the meeting. “The Buffett Institute receives over $100,000 per month of your tax dollars as a partner with the Learning Community,” Hall wrote. “We all know that the University of Nebraska receives hundreds of millions in tax support. It is unacceptable that such racist ideology propaganda is being pushed upon our children, and especially wrong that it is funded with your taxpayer dollars.” Council member Clarice Jackson said Hall’s post amounted to “fear baiting.”

After about four hours of public comment and discussion, council members voted to approve the contracts. The council voted 8-3 to approve a four-year $13.8 million contract with the Buffett Institute to manage the Superintendents Early Childhood Plan, a bundle of programs for schools. Participating districts get $5.5 million of that.

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