Palmerton Area School District's board of directors hired a Wellsboro-based attorney Tuesday night as a hearing officer.

Christopher Lantz, from the law firm of Cox, Stokes & Lantz, will receive $185 per hour plus expenses and mileage.Board President Chuck Myers said he couldn't elaborate on the specifics of Lantz's role for the district."It's a personnel issue and we can't go into detail about it," he said during Tuesday's board meeting.Palmerton resident Audrey Larvey questioned the board on the need for Lantz."We have a solicitor sitting up there, so I'm just wondering how this attorney will be used?" she asked.Myers also said he could not give an estimate of what Lantz's hiring may cost taxpayers.The trip from Wellsboro to Palmerton is just over 160 miles one way.Lantz was approved via unanimous board vote.The board also voted to approve Vicki McHugh as a mentor teacher for Bryna Witkowski for the 2016-17 school year at a stipend of $1,376; approve Shannon Ledo as a substitute cafe worker and substitute instructional assistant, effective June 7; approve a high school concert band, marching band and chorus field trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando in the fall of 2018; and approve Brianna Oswald as junior high cheerleading adviser for the 2017-18 school year.