DENVER — A year after they began lobbying to join a union, Denver’s educational sign language interpreters got a step closer to their goal when district officials announced they were willing to talk about the interpreters joining the Denver teachers union.

The interpreters publicly thanked Denver Public Schools officials at a school board meeting last Thursday, but didn’t let up in their advocacy. The interpreters took the opportunity to remind the superintendent and board of the reasons for their request: an improved evaluation system and a better pay scale that would attract more highly qualified interpreters to the district.