HOME COOKING POLICY REVIEWED : MOJAVE SCHOOLS QUESTION FOOD PRACTICES AFTER HEPATITIS-A SCARE.

Byline: Daily News Staff

A week after schoolchildren were served turkey cooked by a mother infected with hepatitis, Mojave Unified School District officials say they are reconsidering their practice of allowing home-cooked foods at class parties.

Superintendent Wallace McCormack will ask principals to review with their staffs, teachers, school site councils, student councils and parent organizations whether new regulations are needed, a statement issued by the school district said.

``The tradition of parents bringing snacks, treats and food to school for classroom parties and cultural events has a long and successful history,'' the statement said. ``While it is desirable to continue to welcome parents and community members into their schools for this purpose, the practice must be weighed against any health risk for students.''

The options could include new policies, regulations or rules at individual schools, the statement said.

The district issued the statement after Kern County health officials announced that they planned to immunize all 3,000 pupils in the district against hepatitis A, an infectious viral disease that affects the liver.

The action came after 10 cases of the disease had been reported in the California City area since June, and a Nov. 26 incident at Robert P. Ulrich Elementary School in which a mother found out she was infected with hepatitis A after cooking turkey for a class party.

The Antelope Valley's largest elementary school districts say they prohibit or discourage the serving of homemade food at classroom parties.

Lancaster and Palmdale school district officials say they have written policies prohibiting the practice, and Westside Union School District administrators say they strongly discourage it, though there is no formal district policy.