§ 16-8-12 Studies and appraisals of lunchprograms. The department of elementary and secondary education is authorized, to theextent that funds are available for these purposes, and in cooperation withlocal school boards and other appropriate organizations, to conduct studies asto methods of improving and expanding school lunch programs and promotingnutritional education in the schools, to conduct appraisals of the nutritivebenefits of school lunch programs, and to report its findings from time to timeto the governor.