N.Y. Educ. Law § 404

§ 404. Acquisition of real property. Real property may be acquired in\nany school district and in any city having less than seventy thousand\ninhabitants, for school purposes and for any other purpose for which\nsuch property may be acquired as provided in this chapter, as follows:\n 1. By gift, grant, devise or purchase.\n 2. By involuntary acquisition, if an agreement cannot be made with the\nowner for the purchase thereof. Such proceedings shall be instituted\nand conducted by the trustee or board of education, in the name of the\ndistrict under the provisions of the eminent domain procedure law.\n 3. This section does not permit the acquisition by condemnation of\nless than the whole of a city or village lot with the erections and\nimprovements thereon.\n