The board of education of any city, exempted village, or local school district may establish food service, provide facilities and equipment, and pay operating costs in the schools under its control for the preparation and serving of lunches, and other meals or refreshments to the pupils, employees of the board of education employed therein, and to other persons taking part in or patronizing any activity in connection with the schools. A board of education that operates such a food service may also provide meals at cost to residents of the school district who are sixty years of age or older or may contract with public or private nonprofit organizations providing services to the elderly to provide nutritious meals for persons who are sixty years of age or older. Restrictions or limitations upon the privileges or use of facilities by any pupil, employee, person taking part in or patronizing a school-related activity, or elderly person must be applied equally to all pupils, all employees, all persons taking part in or patronizing a school-related activity, or elderly persons, respectively, except that a board may expend school funds other than funds from federally reimbursed moneys or student payments to provide meals at no charge to senior citizens performing volunteer service in the district's schools in accordance with a volunteer program approved by the board. Such facilities shall be under the management and control of the board and the operation of such facilities for school food service purposes or to provide meals for the elderly shall not be for profit. In the operation of such facilities for school food service purposes there shall be established a food service fund in the treasurer's cash journal, which shall be separate from all other funds of the board. All receipts and disbursements in connection with the operation of food service for school food service purposes and the maintenance, improvement, and purchase of equipment for school food service purposes shall be paid directly into and disbursed from the food service fund which shall be kept in a legally designated depository of the board. Revenues for the operation, maintenance, improvement, and purchase of equipment shall be provided by the food service fund, appropriations transferred from the general fund, federal funds, and from other proper sources. Records of receipts and disbursements resulting from the provision of meals for the elderly shall be separately maintained, in accordance with section 3313.29 of the Revised Code. The enforcement of this section shall be under jurisdiction of the state board of education.

Effective Date: 07-01-1989.