N.Y. Education Law § 2008
2. Upon the filing with the trustee or board of education of a petition requesting such officers to call a special district meeting, which petition shall state the purpose thereof and shall be signed by twenty-five qualified voters or five percent of the number of voters who voted in the previous annual election of the members of the board of education or trustees, said number to be determined by the number of persons recorded on the poll list as having voted at such election, whichever shall be greater, such trustee or board of education shall proceed to call such meeting by giving notice thereof within twenty days thereafter unless it shall appear