The board of education of a union free school district shall possess all the powers and privileges, and be subject to all the duties, which the trustees of common school districts possess or are subject to under this chapter, not especially provided for in this article, and not inconsistent with the provisions of this article, including, but not limited to, those provided for in sections sixteen hundred four, sixteen hundred six to sixteen hundred seventeen, both inclusive, and sixteen hundred nineteen of this chapter; and shall enjoy, whenever an academic department shall be by them established, all the immunities and privileges now enjoyed by the trustees of academies in this state.
New York Legal Code