In order to comply with the provisions of this act, and subject to the conditions thereof, the board of school directors of each district is hereby vested with the necessary power and authority to acquire, in the name of the district, by purchase, lease, gift, devise, agreement, condemnation, or otherwise, any and all schools and real estate, either vacant or occupied, including lands theretofore occupied by streets and alleys which have been vacated by municipal authorities, and to acquire by purchase, lease, gift or devise, other buildings approved for school use by the Department of Education as the board of school directors may deem necessary to furnish school buildings or other suitable sites for proper school purposes for said district or to enlarge the grounds of any school property held by such district, and to sell, convey, transfer, dispose of, or abandon the same, or any part thereof, as the board of school directors may determine. Approval of the Department of Education shall not be required for school buildings and playgrounds on any school construction project for which State reimbursement is not requested.