Barabara Erwin has resigned before she officiallt began as Kentucky's education commissioner.

Here is the Associated Press story:

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) -- The woman selected to be Kentucky’s next education commissioner declined to take the position Friday after increasing scrutiny, including questions about her credentials.

Barbara Erwin, who the state Board of Education selected in May, said she would retire rather than start her new post in Kentucky.

“As you know, my original plan was to retire in August of 2007,” Erwin said in a letter. “I believe it is in the best interests of all if I maintain those plans of retirement.”

Erwin was set to retire Friday as superintendent of the Community Unit District 303 school system in Saint Charles, Ill., a western suburb of Chicago. She was supposed to start in Kentucky on Monday.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)