Voters overwhelmingly approved a merger between the Sumner and Fredericksburg School Districts, clearing the way for them to become a single district in July 2014.

More than 96 percent of voters approved the merger. It required a simple majority in both of the districts.

The districts have already been sharing academic programs, administrative staff, teachers and extracurricular activities. Sumner and Fredericksburg students share a middle school and a high school but maintain separate elementary schools.

The new district will have a single tax rate and a joint school board.