A brand-new Taichung school is set to open with its campus still a construction site, which is bad news for the 180 students starting there and embarrassing for the city government.

• Wenshan Junior High broke ground two years ago, but only classrooms and toilets are finished as the term begins on the 31st.
• The running track, front gate, guard post, and perimeter wall are all still being built.
• City councilor He Wen-hai demanded the principal resign, then snapped at Deputy Mayor Cheng Chao-hsin for laughing during the questioning.
• Cheng said afterward he was laughing at a message on his phone, not at the criticism.
• The education bureau blames land expropriation, moving a factory off the site, and heavy rain, and says students will take city-funded swimming lessons for free until the track is done.

Outlook: The track is expected to be finished in October, with the gate and wall done by the end of that month at the earliest.