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NORTH ATTLEBORO - School Superintendent Rick Smith delivered a preemptive strike Thursday night when he learned the grandson of the man who donated a Russian masterpiece to the school department a half-century ago was to meet with selectmen about the painting.

His message to selectmen: Back off.

Rumors swirled through town offices Thursday that Gregory Smith, owner of Standard Chain in North Attleboro, whose grandfather donated the Alexandre Iacovleff painting "Afghans" to the schools in 1951, was to meet with selectmen about the fate of the painting.

Experts say the painting that hung in the auditorium of the Community School for decades could easily be worth more than $1 million, stirring up debate about whether it should be sold or kept on display in town.

Gregory Smith has said the painting should remain in town. "Mr. Gregory Smith passionately requested a time out and asked the school committee to stop with any intent to vote on selling or not selling the painting," Superintendent Smith said. "I was advised that Mr. Smith and his attorney would be here to address the board of selectmen. That doesn't sound like a timeout to me."

Rick Smith said the school committee had not been advised that any discussion of the painting would take place at Thursday's selectmen's meeting. The school committee is preparing to meet with representatives of the family next week.

"The bylaw is noteworthy because we can only sell the property with written permission from the board of selectmen," Rick Smith said. "There is a time when the board of selectmen should be involved in the process, and that time has not arrived.

"The board of selectmen should not formally immerse yourself in this story," he said.

Selectmen took no action on the painting during the meeting, and as it turned out there was little discussion.

Attorney Stephen Clapp spoke on behalf of Gregory Smith, a longtime friend.

Clapp said he and Smith intended only to thank selectmen and the school committee for agreeing to discuss the matter further.

He added, "The painting has great value today, but it had great value when it was given as well.

"When the painting was donated it was worth $3,500," Clapp said. "That same year, the town was planning to build Allen Avenue School, and paid $3,000 to buy the land for the school."

The 7-foot by 10-foot painting that depicts Afghan tribesmen at rest on a hillside was donated by Charles Thompson and his family, and was hung in what was then the high school and is now the Community Elementary School. The painting was removed last week after Sotheby's auction house of New York appraised it at $600,000 to $800,000. Sotheby's has agreed to store and insure the painting until the town decides what to do with it.

Town counsel Roger Ferris said the town needs to compile documentary and testimonial material to determine the donor's intent, and whether there were any conditions attached to the gift.

"The town should be mindful of the importance of input from the family of the donor when gathering the necessary information to answer the aforementioned questions," he said. "These findings should be sound and comprehensive in that the conclusion could be challenged in superior court or by the attorney general.

"It is imperative that all interested parties attempt to reach a consensus as to the conclusions drawn from the facts established," Ferris said.

Selectmen said they hope a conclusion can be reached to everyone's satisfaction.

"When I first talked to Superintendent Smith on Friday, I thought what a great story this was," Selectman William Moffitt said. "I felt really good that the painting hung in that auditorium for 55 years and there wasn't even a spitball on it.

"It's a quiet treasure we've had a long time," he said. "After all is said and done, I hope we all still feel good about it."

Selectmen Chairman John Rhyno agreed.

"The most important thing is when this is over, it's just as good a story as when it started," he said.