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NORTH ATTLEBORO - It may be a new year, but the school department is getting ready to delve into an old issue: What should be done with the town's million-dollar Russian masterpiece.

School committee Chairman David Manoogian confirmed Tuesday he will place discussion of the "Afghans" painting on an upcoming school committee meeting agenda.

Manoogian said he plans to talk about the painting at Monday's school committee meeting, but if the meeting starts running long, he will postpone the discussion until February.

Manoogian said discussion will focus on a memo from selectmen that answers some of the outstanding questions about what would happen if the Alexandre Iacovleff painting were brought back to town.

In November, selectmen sent the school committee a memo requesting a meeting to hash out the conditions that must be met before the "Afghans" painting can be brought back from Sotheby's auction house in New York, where it is being stored. The painting was donated to the town in 1951 when W. Charles Thompson personally hung it on what is now the wall of the Community School. After learning that the painting could be worth more than $1 million, the school department removed it from the school and sent it to Sotheby's for safekeeping.

Although the school committee hoped to auction the painting, selectmen, who have the final say, are opposed to the sale, as are Thompson's wife, children and grandchildren.

Selectmen have asked that the painting be returned to town; however, the school committee must agree before that can happen.

The school committee has said that selectmen need to prepare for the painting's return by creating a plan for regular appraisals and insuring of the painting, as well as the designation of a safe place to hang the painting in town.

In their November memo, selectmen say an appraisal can be done for about $4,000 to $5,000, and the town's insurance carrier says one must be conducted about every three years.

The memo said issues relating to an insurance policy for the painting, where the painting could be displayed and the cost of returning the painting to town can be discussed during a joint meeting of the two boards.

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