Columbus City Schools has decided to begin self-operating its foodservice five months after Sodexo withdrew from its $13-million a year contract, reports the Columbus Dispatch. The district received bids from three other contract management companies but chose to bring the $26 million a year operation in-house.
Columbus had traditionally self-operated its dining services but turned to outside management in 2009 after experiencing severe program deficits. The contract with Sodexo ran into difficulties after portions of the terms were rendered inoperative following USDA rules changes that prohibit the payment of any program surpluses to an outside provider when the bulk of revenues come from federal reimbursements.