$2.50 for school lunch? Almost. A new federal mandate wants the price kids pay to better match the money that the government pays schools for reimbursement. Our Erin Vannella has the story.

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ROTTERDAM, N.Y. -- Pay up, kids. School lunch just got more expensive.

"For us to go from $1.75 to $2.46, that's a substantial increase," said Mohonasen School District Food Service Program Director Kim Gagnon.

A new federal mandate requires schools to raise their prices a minimum 10 cents this coming school year, not to exceed $2.46. Schools that charge $1.60 plus now, have a five cent increase minimum. The more each school decides to pay, the more money they'll have to serve lunch.

"Originally I thought maybe let's do it all at once and just get it out of the way so over the course of the next few years we may not have to increase prices," said Gagnon, "but then I contacted parents and asked them how what your thought on this."

Gagnon said the Mohonasen School District will raise the price 25 cents.

"It's hard when you're doing $1.85 and a Kindergartner has to figure out how to get that extra dime to the cashier when sometimes just getting dollar bills is difficult," said Gagnon.

The state Education Department says the mandate is a means to better match the money that the government pays schools for reimbursement.

Child Nutrition Program Director Francis O'Donnell said, "I'm not saying it won't be a struggle for most families, but to put it in perspective, if a child buys lunch every single day for 180 days, a nickel increase would only cost $9 more."

Still, Gagnon worries even a small increase will hurt families who can barely afford to buy lunch as it is.

"We're very concerned they're not going to choose the school lunch and they're going to bring lunches in that maybe aren't as nutritious as the lunches we provide at school so it is a big concern for us," said Gagnon.

Menu adjustments are part of the plan too, but details are still getting worked out.