§ 1714. Contracts with academies. The board of education of a union
free school district, with the approval of the commissioner of
education, may adopt an academy as the academic department thereof, and
contract for the instruction therein of pupils of academic grade,
residing in the district. The academy thereupon becomes the academic
department of such union free school district, and the district is
entitled to the same rights and privileges, is subject to the same
duties, and the apportionment and distribution of state school money
shall be made to it, as if an academic department had been established
in such district.