WASHINGTON, Conn. - The Region 12 Board of Education building committee decided Wednesday to wait until after an April 25 referendum to seek bids for the renovation of the district's elementary schools.

The delay could postpone the proposed September 2008 completion date and increase costs.

Voters will go to the polls April 25 to choose whether to bond $39.3 million to renovate Booth Free School in Roxbury, Burnham Elementary School in Bridgewater and Washington Primary School in Washington. The Building Committee wants to wait until after the vote to make sure funding has been approved before advertising for bids.

"We don't want to proceed until we have the money," said Gary Steinman, committee chairman.

The committee considered sending the bid requests before the vote with a note explaining that funding would not be considered until April 25, but decided against it because it would have to pull back requests if the vote fails. Committee members worried that would harm the district's credibility.

"We want to make sure that people view us as worthy of submitting a (request for proposal)," said Irene Allan, school board chairwoman. "We don't want to be playing yo-yo with our architectural firms."

The committee sent a notice to architects in late 2005 notifying them of potential construction. At the time, the committee anticipated a February referendum on both construction and financing for a consolidated school or a renovation project. They disbanded their efforts when the school board decided to have two separate votes. Residents on March 7 chose renovation.

The committee also had sought bids in spring 2005.

This month, the committee will work on finishing the request for proposals so it will be ready to send if the bond is approved. It will give architects several weeks to send proposals before interviewing candidates.

Steinman said he hopes to select a firm by the end of May, three months behind a tentative Board of Education schedule.

Even if construction is not completed by September 2008, classes will remain in session, he said. Students may have to move to alternate locations.