N.Y. Educ. Law § 2557
The board of education may purchase real property for any of the purposes authorized by law and shall take title thereof in the name of the city, which shall hold said property in trust for the use of such school district and the city is hereby empowered to sell and convey the same when it deems it for the interest of such school district, and when the owner of such property refuses to sell the same or such board is unable to agree with the owner of such property on the purchase price thereof, it shall have the power and authority to institute such proceedings and take any action necessary to acquire title to such property under and pursuant to the provisions of the eminent domain procedure law, except that in a city in which the common council, board of contract and supply or other city officers or body were authorized and empowered by law to acquire title to real property for school purposes under the laws in force on June eighth, nineteen hundred seventeen, said council, board, officers or body shall continue to possess such powers and shall exercise the same, including the power to acquire real property for said purposes except further that such real property shall be acquired pursuant to the eminent domain procedure law.
N.Y. Educ. Law § 2557