Sec. 19. (a) If the board determines it will promote the health of school children and advance the educational work of the schools, the board may provide for the serving of lunches to the students attending designated schools.
(b) The board may:
(1) establish kitchens and lunch rooms;
(2) provide equipment suitable for kitchens and lunch rooms;
(3) make other necessary provision for furnishing and serving lunches; and
(4) employ a director and other necessary assistants or employees;
to provide lunches under subsection (a).
(c) The board shall pay the expenses arising under subsection (b) out of the board's operations fund. The expense of operating a lunch department shall, so far as practicable, be paid from charges paid by the students for the lunches. However, the board may, in the board's discretion, furnish lunches without cost to a student who is needy and unable to pay for the student's lunch.