NORTH ATTLEBORO - Would anyone have guessed when an art enthusiast discovered a valuable Russian painting at the Community School that almost a year later town officials would still be talking about what to do with it?

Yet, selectmen and the school committee remain at an impasse over how to handle the Alexandre Iacovleff painting, which is estimated to be worth more than a million dollars.

The school committee says the painting should be sold and the money used to foster the arts for students, while selectmen contend the painting should be hanging in town for residents to enjoy.

Selectmen are putting together a plan detailing where the painting can safely hang in town, and how it will be insured in an effort aimed at convincing the school board to bring the painting back to town.

It was last February when art enthusiast Richard Paynton became curious about the 7-by-10-foot Alexandre Iacovleff painting hanging in the Community School foyer. After conducting a little research and learning that the painting, titled "Afghans," might be valuable, he made the decision to bring the information to the school committee.

The painting was spirited off to Sotheby's auction house in New York City, which has estimated the painting could sell for $1.2 million - or more- if the town were to auction it. But that wasn't to be.

While the school committee was in favor of selling the painting, relatives of W. Charles Thompson, who donated the painting in 1951, were adamantly opposed, as were selectmen, who unanimously voted against auctioning the masterpiece.

The painting's fate remains in limbo.

Selectmen want the painting returned to town, and have suggested it could hang at town hall or at the police station.

However, the school committee needs to vote to bring the painting back from Sotheby's, and has said it will not do so unless an acceptable plan is in place to ensure its safety.

AMY DeMELIA can be reached at 508-236-0334 or at ademelia@thesunchronicle.com.