The Dougherty County School Board takes official action Monday night to terminate Brian Brannen

ALBANY — The Dougherty County School Board on Monday voted unanimously to terminate the contract of former teacher Brian Brannen, who is facing 24 felony counts of sexual exploitation of children.

Brannen was arrested on April 4 after Dougherty County sheriff’s deputies said a search of his residence showed child pornography on his home computer. Brannen, formerly an eighth-grade teacher at Radium Springs Middle School, was charged initially with one count of sexual exploitation of children. The Capt. Craig Dodd with the sheriff’s office said a later examination of Brannen’s computer by forensic experts brought the number of felony exploitation charges to 24.

Brannen had been assigned to a non-teaching position before the arrest.

In another personnel move, the board formally approved the hiring of former Randolph-Clay High School girls basketball coach Jennifer Acree as Cheryl Cheeks’ replacement at Monroe High School.

Acree was named The Albany Herald’s 2013-14 Coach of the Year after guiding Randolph-Clay to the GHSA Class A state championship this past season.

An all-region forward at Dougherty High from 1992-96, Acree helped the Lady Trojans to a state runner-up finish in 1994, then played an integral part in helping Dougherty reach the state semifinals her junior and senior seasons.

In other personnel matters, Superintendent Butch Mosely said teachers whose contracts for the 2014-15 school year will not be renewed will receive non-renewal letters by the end of the week.

“Basically, if you don’t get a letter you still have a job,” Mosely said.

Some non-renewal letters have already been delivered. Teachers who are non-renewed have 10 days to file appeals with the school system to begin the hearing process.

Mosely said he expects to issue at least 23 non-renewals and the system will trim even more personnel through retirements and resignations. The superintendent added that six teachers had already files notices of appeal.

In other business, the board praised the first graduating class of Albany Early College. Forty graduates picked up diplomas Saturday at Albany State University’s HPER Gymnasium. AEC Coordinator Barbara Harvey said she was especially proud that all 40 of the graduates passed the state’s high school graduation writing test and 23 of the seniors graduated with grade point averages of 3.0 or better.

“The Albany Early College is a jewel of our community,” board Vice Chairman James Bush said.”