Gardner Edgerton School District makes masks optional Gardner Edgerton School District makes masks optional and last updated 2021-07-27 00:02:27-04 KANSAS CITY, Mo. â The Gardner Edgerton School District 231 will not require students to wear masks. Face coverings will, however, remain optional. The Board of Education voted, 3-4, Monday night against requiring masks for students in kindergarten through sixth grade. The motion came after board member Kristen Schultz said students in those grades cannot be vaccinated and wanted a mask requirement. But after about 30 minutes of debate between board members, they ultimately voted it down. The current policy allows masks to be optional for everyone.