Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – An American Sign Language program is lingering, because District 186 has not hired any teachers.

Citizen Darcy Zook (pictured, right), speaking through an interpreter, expressed her displeasure to the school board at its meeting last week.

“I want to know why District 186 and the (Illinois State Board of Education) failed to bring the ASL program to the high schools of District 186,” she said. “There were qualified candidates who submitted applications, only to be told they had to have a specific license which was not included within the application job posting.”

Responding to a reporter’s question after the meeting, superintendent Jennifer Gill said, “It’s called a teaching certificate.”

Gill said the district will offer the program as soon as it can find qualified teachers to hire.