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NORTH ATTLEBORO - There's no need to clear off any wall space - the town's million dollar Russian masterpiece will not be hanging in town anytime soon.

Saying that selectmen have not addressed all of the safety issues related to bringing the painting back to town, the school committee agreed to leave it at Sotheby's auction house in New York City for safekeeping.

"I personally do not believe the board of selectmen has complied with the terms and conditions we set out," school committee Chairman David Manoogian said. "I don't believe there is any place to safely hang our valuable asset. I'd rather see it stay at Sotheby's."

The Alexandre Iacovleff painting, known as "Afghans" can be stored at the auction house indefinitely at no cost to the town.

Selectmen recently responded to a memo from the school committee that laid out some issues that need to be resolved before the painting can be brought back to town. The issues raised ranged from how appraisals would be funded to where the painting would hang to the thornier issue of who is the owner of the masterpiece - the school department or the town as a whole. In response, selectmen said an appraisal of the painting, at a cost of about $4,000 to $5,000 would be conducted every three years, as required by the town's insurance carrier. Other issues could be hashed out during a joint meeting between the two boards, the memo said.

However, the school committee voted against creating a subcommittee to talk to selectmen about the issue, with only members Tony Calcia and Joan Meilan voting in favor. A majority of the board questioned whether talks would bring any results.

"The problem is, I don't see a compromise between where we say sell it, and they say don't sell it," school committee member William Kummer said. "A compromise can't be reached - you either do, or you don't."

Calcia urged the board to continue discussions, saying, "For one group to dig its heels in and then another group to dig its heels in - I don't see what it resolves."

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.

Although the school committee hoped to auction the painting and use the proceeds for arts programs, selectmen, who have the final say, are opposed to the sale, as are Thompson's family.

School committee member Christopher Frost spoke in favor of selling the painting, saying that he comes from an artistic background and appreciates the masterpiece. However, he said more good could be done for the children of North Attleboro if the painting were sold.

He pointed out the painting shows Afghans holding rifles - giving it more political significance for someone in Afghanistan, Russia or even France, since the painting was commissioned as part of an expedition from that country.

"Nothing in it is part of North Attleboro's heritage," Frost said. "The generosity of the gift from Mr. Thompson is what is part of our heritage."