A new educational concept is on the table for Cy-Fair ISD as design work continues on the district's multi-school site planned for FM 529 and Westgreen Boulevard. The 179-acre site will house an elementary, middle and high school campus, allowing students and staff to share resources and facilities.

Representatives from PBK Architects presented an update to the board of trustees Oct. 10 on the design of the site, which is being referred to as an educational village.

"This is a bit of a new invention, and it's a departure from your other schools," said Dan Boggio with PBK. "It's reflective of what's happening with educational delivery and with what's happening in the 21st century."

The proposed design calls for a commons area in the center of the site, which will be surrounded by the three campuses. The athletics and fine arts areas will also be tied into the commons area, and parking will be outside of the core area.

"When we have numerous campuses, the schools are able to work in close connection with one another," Boggio said. "There's cross fertilization across the campuses, and they can share resources and facilities. We have some outdoor courtyard areas, which we think can be used as learning spaces. This is something we are seeing in 21st century schools, that educational learning needs to be brought to the outdoors."

When PBK began the design process, the firm looked at the sites as being three individual schools that just happened to be on the same property, until they started putting them together, Boggio said. One example of how the campuses will work together includes a shared cafeteria space, which could also be used as a large space for community events, meetings or pep rallies after partitions are removed.

"This whole concept saves costs initially and gives us educational opportunities and shared facilities," Boggio said. "These synergies enhance the learning environment."

PBK used House Bill 5 as a starting point for organizing the layout of the high school, since the new legislation creates career endorsements such as business and industry, STEM, arts and humanities and multidisciplinary studies.

"Some of the trends and research about high schools talks about breaking up the school into smaller communities, much like what you've done at Jersey Village and Cypress Creek high schools," said Irene Nigaglioni with PBK. "It breaks the building into smaller components where students are closer to counselors and administrators and have access to them day in and day out."

The proposed educational village design calls for four small learning communities, which will allow students to have quick access to their classes, counselors and administrators.

CFISD trustee Christine Hartley said she thinks having the three campuses close together could give students something to look forward to.

"Having the schools in that circle builds pride in the next school they're going to go to, and it might keep more students engaged in the schools they're going to go to," she said. "They see where they're going to go and they'll be proud of it. We always say Cy-Fair is a small town, and this is a perfect example."

PBK plans to return to present proposals next spring for approval, and it will take about 26 months for the high school to be constructed and ready for the 2016-17 school year.