Teachers in a western Pennsylvania elementary school tried to ban a disabled girl from using a faculty bathroom by filing a grievance with the district 's school board . The Steel Valley School Board voted unanimously without discussion on Thursday night to reject the complaint , according the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . In the grievance filed February 13 , the teachers union said allowing ten-year-old Kaitlin Montgomery to use the restroom on the lower level of Park Elementary School in Munhall violated the teachers ' contract . The teachers union at Park Elementary School in Munhall , Pennsylvania , filed a grievance about Kaitlin Montgomery ( left ) , pictured with her mother Tracy Montgomery ( right ) , because she was using the faculty restroom on the school 's lower level which violated their contracts . Kaitlin , a fourth grader , has chronic lung disease , pulmonary hypertension and foot problems , and is also autistic . There are no student bathrooms on the school 's lower level , where Kaitlin 's classroom is located . The grievance 's solution was that Kaitlin would have had to go outside and up a flight of stairs to use the student bathroom . Eighteen female teachers , including two special education teachers , signed a petition that accompanied the grievance against the fourth grader , who has chronic lung disease , pulmonary hypertension and foot problems and is also autistic . The Steel Valley Education Association said the contract requires the district to provide 'lavatory facilities exclusively for employees ' , according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . 'The bathrooms that have been designated as faculty bathrooms shall be exclusively used by the faculty , ' the grievance said . The student 's mother , Tracy Montgomery , told the board on Thursday that before she got permission to have her daughter use the faculty restroom , school officials said the girl would have to go outside and up a flight of stairs to use a student bathroom , which is what other students have to do . Kaitlin ca n't walk long distances , so her family uses a custom-made stroller for easier transportation . Because of her physical disabilities , Kaitlin can not walk long distances and her family uses a custom-made stroller for transportation . Montgomery said that this is just one of Kaitlin 's many issues at the school . Because there is no elevator from the school 's lower level to the top levels , her daughter is unable to access the music and art rooms for classes . Montgomery found out about the grievance through a Post-Gazette article , after which she said she was 'embarrassed for the teachers and appalled . Steel Valley Education Association President Shawn McCallister said the grievance was n't filed to prevent the student from using the restroom , the Post-Gazette reported , but to create ' a better outcome for all involved ' . District Superintendent Ed Wehrer previously said federal law requires Steel Valley to meet the needs of students with disabilities . No other alternatives met the girl 's needs , he said , and noted that the student is the only non-faculty member using the restroom . The school board said no alternatives to the faculty restroom met Kaitlin 's needs , so she would be allowed into the bathroom , being the only non-faculty member using the facilities . The school board voted unanimously without discussion on Thursday night to allow Kaitlin to use the faculty bathroom . District official Diane Borges , who oversees pupil personnel and special services , had said the restroom on the lower level of the school in Munhall is the only one available . Another one located in a special education room is now taken up by a ventilation unit , according to WTAE . Borges said that two other faculty restrooms are in the school building and that she believes the district accommodations fulfill the teachers ' contract . Montgomery said that this is only one of many problems Kaitlin faces in her school , saying that the lower level annex is two floors below the building elevator , so she wo n't be able to get to classes on higher levels including music and art . There are two other faculty restrooms for teachers to use at Park Elementary School . While there was a student bathroom on the lower level for Kaitlin to use in the special education room , it has been taken up by a ventilation unit .
Kaitlin Montgomery has chronic lung disease , pulmonary hypertension and foot problems and is also autistic . There are no student bathroom 's on the Pennsylvania school 's lower level . Teachers union filed grievance claiming her use of bathroom violated the faculty 's contract . Eighteen female teachers , including two special needs teachers , signed a petition that accompanied the grievance against the girl . School board voted unanimously to allow Kaitlin to use the restroom .