PINE BUSH – After a year and a half of planning, construction, confusion, and delays, and at a cost of $1,040,000, the Crispell Annex buildings opened for classes at the end of November. Teachers and students moved in, lockers went into the hallway, and education got underway.

There was huge relief on the part of everyone involved, especially John Boyle, Principal of Crispell Middle School.

"Oh, it was tough," he said, referring to the first three months of the school year, during which he had to find somewhere, anywhere, for his eighth grade classes to meet. "We had classes on the stage, we had them in the music room — we had them just about everywhere."

But now, that's over. "This is all for Team Blue Eight," says Boyle with a twinkle in his eye as he pushes open the doors and shows off the new space. Ahead lies a long straight hallway lined with blue lockers.

"The whole eighth grade is out here, 130 kids," he explains. "We use the Team Teaching concept. That means all our eighth grade teachers work here exclusively, except for science, which has its own labs in the main building. The idea is that they work together as a team so they can compare notes on the students and improve their teaching."

And, it has to be said, Team Blue Eight has a terrific place to work in. The spaces are big and brightly lit, and now that teachers and their classes have filled them they have all the signs of busy education in progress. Maps, diagrams, books, equipment — it's all there.

"We've gained five really excellent classrooms," says Boyle with obvious satisfaction.

So was the wait worthwhile?

"Oh, yeah, this is great. We're very happy."

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