A veteran administrator will soon be switching school districts in Carbon County.

Thomas McLaughlin was unanimously hired Tuesday night as human resources director for Palmerton Area School District.He will be leaving Weatherly Area School District, where he currently serves as superintendent and elementary principal.“It’s an opportunity to go to a larger district and there are a lot of great things happening in Palmerton so I’m really excited about it,” McLaughlin, a Tamaqua resident, said after the meeting Tuesday.“I had a role in human resources in my position with Weatherly and I’m looking forward to having more of a focus on that here in Palmerton.”While McLaughlin’s start date is yet to be determined, his beginning salary was set at $85,000. It will be prorated for the remainder of the 2016-17 school year.When McLaughlin’s contract was extended at Weatherly in 2014, his salary was set at $91, 740.With his hiring in Palmerton official, McLaughlin said he intends to officially inform Weatherly this week of his intent to leave.He spent 11 years total at Weatherly, serving as special education coordinator, an assistant principal, and high school principal until taking over as superintendent in 2011.“Tom is a great guy who handled the human resources responsibilities in Weatherly and it will be a real added bonus that he can come here and help out in any situation,” Palmerton Superintendent Scot Engler said.The human resources director position had been vacant in Palmerton for several years.As for his goals, McLaughlin said he would strive to be an outlet for all district employees and administrators.“I just want to be a part of the team,” he said. “In the end, we’re all here for the kids, and I’ll be happy to play a part in that.”Palmerton abolished its director of district services position and created a director of human resources position in its place.Palmerton also hired a new school psychologist Tuesday.Mary Katherine Finn-Writer will receive a starting salary of $67,000, which will also be prorated for the rest of the 2016-17 school year.Also coming from the Weatherly Area School District, Finn-Writer will replace Robert Palazzo, who was hired as Panther Valley Elementary School principal in November.