INDIAN RIVER, MI -- There's no doubt schools districts across the state are doing what they can to work with very limited budgets.

While that includes cuts for most, one school district in Cheboygan County is going against the grain by adding instead of subtracting.

For students, imagine a shorter school year.  Ok, snap back to reality.  But you can imagine a school year that is structured more like college, and in the final few weeks, you don't have to worry about taking that tough calculus exam.  This will be the case next year at Inland Lakes Middle and High School.  Principal Don Killingbeck says it's a way to beat the spring itch for summer and beat the budget.

“We wanted to improve the learning opportunities for students despite all of the budget problems that our students are going to be facing," said Killingbeck.

Core classes will be taught in the fall and spring semesters, and then beginning at the end of April, there will be a 'sprint semester' as they're calling it, which will be 30 days for students to take fun and interesting electives or remediation courses if necessary.

"Next year being the first year I think everyone's going to be excited about it, not sure really what's going on, so it'll be something new," said Inland Lakes Sophomore Josh Passino.

"We're going to be offering them something new and exciting, and really it's going to be driven by student interests," said Killingbeck.

“We get to express, like, our ideas in more creative ways," said Inland Lakes Freshman Miranda Saunders.

"And if you have electives, or easier classes, you don't have to worry about it, you can kind of just go with the flow and get stuff done, and not worry about what's going to happen, and pass the year, and work for next year," said Inland Lakes Sophomore Laurel Tucker.

Killingbeck says it's a way to make due with the reality of cut-backs, working with what's available, and preserving fun of learning.

The two normal semesters will run from September until the December break and then from January until the end of April.

At the end of April, that's when the 30-day sprint semester begins.