NORTH ATTLEBORO - As the town begins to deliberate on the future of the "Afghans" painting, a campaign is quietly building among those who believe the town should hang onto the artwork, rather than sell it.

Ever since news broke late last week that the town was considering selling the Alexandre Iacovleff painting, which could bring more than $1 million at auction, some residents have been strongly advocating that the town keep the masterpiece.

Ronald Christianson, former band director for North Attleboro schools, believes the painting should remain town property.

"I read with dismay that it is the intention of North Attleboro officials to auction off the artwork "Afghans," which has hung in the middle school auditorium since the early 1950s. I think the sale of this work of art would be a tremendous loss to the town of North Attleboro and the public schools," Christianson said.

"On a personal note, I taught in that auditorium for many years and never failed to appreciate the beauty of this work. I was acquainted with the donor of 'Afghans,' and am certain that he would be opposed to the sale of this work. His intention was for this painting to remain where it is," Christianson said. One of the difficulties with keeping the painting would be providing both security and insurance for the 7-foot by 10-foot painting.

School committee Chairman David Manoogian said his research indicates the town does not have any place it can safely hang a million dollar painting.

"It isn't just vandalism that the painting needs to be protected from," Manoogian said. "First of all, we need a secure facility, but there are other issues as well. You might think the police station is a secure facility, but it has sprinklers so we can't put the painting there either. We have no way of securing it."

Former school Superintendent William Kelly remembers the painting well from his days at the then-high school, where he started teaching in 1961. He has suggested the town consider building a secure area for the artwork if it constructs a new library.

"It is unlikely that the painting's value will do anything other than appreciate, even considering there is at present a greatly heightened interest in the artist. More likely, the painting will appreciate further because of this interest," he said.

Both school committee member James McKenna and Kelly have advocated for loaning the painting to a museum, which could display the painting for residents to enjoy in a secure environment.

School department officials plan to meet with Gregory Smith, the grandson of the painting's donor, Charles Thompson, to discuss the family's wishes. Smith has not publicly stated what the family would like to see happen, though he has expressed dismay that the painting was removed from the Community School wall where his grandfather first placed it in 1951.

Superintendent Rick Smith has suggested that if the decision is made to sell the painting, perhaps another piece of art could be purchased for the auditorium, with assistance from the Thompson-Smith family.

Proceeds from the sale could be put into a scholarship fund for graduating North Attleboro High School students who major in the arts.

If a decision is ultimately made to sell the painting, Manoogian has suggested that the town can decide what to do with the proceeds later. "The problem we have is whether we can get a consensus on what to use the funds for if it is sold," he said. "I think we really can't have any meaningful conversation on the use of funds until we know how much the painting sells for.

If the painting brings in a couple of hundred dollars, it's a different conversation if it brings in a couple million dollars. The dynamics change when you know what you have."