D.C. Public Schools director fired after clash over school meals costs

Jan. 15—Jeff Mills, director of foodservice for D.C. Public Schools, has been removed from his position, according to D.C.-based blog the DCist.

Mills' firing comes in the wake of a contentious D.C. Council hearing in December at which Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson and other school officials were put on the defensive over how much the school system spends on breakfasts and lunches. From 2008 to 2012, the system contracted its food services out to Chartwells, a large food services provider, but the company served fewer meals than expected and charged more than estimated. (Chartwells has rejected these claims.)

According to a food blogger Ed Bruske, in early 2012 Mills and Henderson clashed over the use of Chartwells to provide meals to DCPS students, with Mills advocating that the school system do the job internally. Henderson refused to entertain the idea.