Section 2561. Liability of certain officers and employees of boards of education in a city having a population of one million or more inhabitants

If,  in  order  to furnish needy children or minors with  food, shoes, clothing, and other necessities to enable  them  to  attend
  school as contemplated by law and to benefit from instruction, the board
  of  education of a city having a population of one million or more shall
  have required, imposed or permitted, the performance of duties by any of
  its officers and employees, because of  which  it  became  necessary  or
  expedient  for  any  such  officer  or  employee to act for the board of
  education, or to act for or in cooperation  with  any  other  agency  of
  government,  federal,  state or municipal, then irrespective of the fact
  that the authority to require, impose or permit the performance of  such
  duties  may  not  have  been  specifically  conferred upon said board of
  education by provisions of this chapter, each such  board  of  education
  shall  be  liable  for  and shall assume liability to the extent that it
  shall save harmless any such officers or employees for  damages  arising
  out  of  the  negligence  of any such officer or employee prior to April
  fifteenth, nineteen hundred thirty-seven, while actually engaged in  the
  performance  of  such required or permitted duties, provided the officer
  or employee at the time was acting within the scope  of  his  duties  or
  employment.