California schools chief crashed SF strike talks — then quickly bailed as negotiations stalled

California schools chief Tony Thurmond crashed San Francisco teachers strike talks — only to duck out early after offering little more than a “useless” tweet promising to “join the conversation,” a source told The Post.

Thurmond, California’s superintendent of schools and a candidate for governor, blew into town mid-morning offering to help “facilitate” an end to the days-long strike that’s kept 50,000 students out of schools since Monday — but never made it into the negotiation room and skipped town by the afternoon, when discussions for the evening had barely started, a source said.

“He wants to make it look like he solved this, but he definitely wasn’t in the weeds or in the details,” a source familiar with the talks told The Post.

Thurmond’s unsolicited cameo was seen as a bid to look like a hero for his flailing bid for governor, as polls show the progressive school boss and former legislator polling at 3%.

“The California Department of Education has no official role or oversight of items being bargained but I have remained in regular contact with the parties and I am offering to join the conversation in an informal role to help bring the strike to an end,” Thurmond posted on X Tuesday morning.

“Both sides have remained at the table. They are working hard and could be in reach of an agreement if they can get through some complex conversations that remain to be worked through.”

“This is such a useless statement Tony…” one onlooker replied on X.

Thurmond’s “white knight” appearance reportedly fell flat with local officials as fraught contract negotiations stretched well into the evening Tuesday.

After a scheduled meeting with San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, Thurmond barged in on contract negotiations at San Francisco’s War Memorial building but was reportedly on the freeway out of town by 4:30 p.m, the source said.

Contract talks extended past 10 p.m. but ended after union bosses abruptly “abandoned” talks, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Teachers’ union United Educators of San Francisco is demanding a 9% raise over two years and fully funded health care benefits, arguing they can’t survive in San Francisco with an average annual salary of about $100,000. San Francisco Unified School District, which is plagued by a $100 million deficit and ongoing budget crisis, claims it can’t afford the teachers’ demands.

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The striking teachers went so far as to ask parents to refrain from home schooling to support their bid for better pay and conditions.

Thurmond wasn’t the only governor candidate who made cameos at the strike as contenders jockey for support of powerful teachers unions.

East Bay Rep. Eric Swalwell paid a visit to demonstrators outside City Hall and vowed to support the local union: “I will be with you all the way,” said in a video posted to social media.

Likewise, billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer joined teachers on the picket line and took aim at San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, calling his rival for governor “anti-union.”

Thurmond’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.