Florence police have arrested a high school employee on accusations of a sexual relationship with a student.

Lorie Earwood (Florence Police Department)

Lorie Gean Earwood, 45, was the nurse at Florence High School until her arrest Tuesday. Police and the school system confirm she volunteered her immediate resignation at the time of her arrest.

Earwood is charged with two Class B felony counts of a school employee engaging in a sex act or deviant sexual intercourse with a student under the age of 19 years and two Class A misdemeanor counts of a school employee having sexual contact with a student under the age of 19 years.

She was booked into the Lauderdale County Detention Canter on a $22,000 bond.

Police said the student is an 18-year-old female senior at the school. Police received information about the alleged relationship on Monday.

The Florence Police Department and Lauderdale County District Attorney's Office investigated and obtained an arrest warrant on Tuesday.

Earwood surrendered to police through her attorney.

"Throughout this investigation, the Florence City Schools have been fully cooperative, and swift acting. I can't emphasize enough that both the school system and the Florence Police Department consider the safety of the children in this community the priority. The disheartening facts of this case withstanding, I commend the school administrators, and our detectives for their diligence, persistence, and professionalism throughout this investigation," said Florence Police Chief Ron Tyler in a press release.

"While the investigation is still ongoing, we believe this case is isolated to one staff member and one student. However, there is only one person responsible for these actions. That person is Lorie Earwood, and she has been charged, will be held responsible, and will have to provide an account for her behavior," he said.

Florence City Schools Superintendent Janet Womack gave the following statement: "Once I learned of the allegations yesterday, we began working closely with the Florence Police Department and Chief Tyler. We met with the employee today where she offered a resignation effective immediately. We announced a called board meeting for 7 a.m. tomorrow morning for the board to approve the resignation. We consider the person no longer an employee of Florence City Schools as of today."

Earwood's worked at the school for about 10 years, Womack said.