EduTrak Q4 2025 Newsletter: Childcare Innovation, Total Lunchroom Suite & Customer-Focused Growth
EduTrak’s November 2025 newsletter showcases a year of remarkable innovation and customer-centric expansion, with game-changing solutions for school childcare programs, comprehensive food service management, and strengthened partnerships across K-12 districts nationwide.
Brand New Childcare Module: Checkmate Enters Beta Testing
EduTrak has officially launched Checkmate, a revolutionary childcare management system currently in beta testing. Designed specifically for before and after school programs, preschool, and extended care, this all-in-one platform eliminates the daily administrative chaos that childcare providers face.
What Makes Checkmate Different?
Streamlined Attendance Management:
- One-touch check-in system using scan or tap technology
- Real-time attendance dashboards
- Improved safety protocols with instant parent notifications
- Paperless tracking that syncs directly to billing
Automated Billing That Adjusts to Attendance: Schools using EduTrak’s childcare module report fewer missed payments and smoother daily operations. The system automatically adjusts billing based on actual attendance, whether programs charge by session, week, or individual attendance records.
Parent-Friendly Mobile Portal: Parents get a single dashboard for everything childcare-related:
- Online registration that syncs to billing in real time
- Live attendance updates
- Payment management with flexible options
- Direct messaging with program staff
- Balance tracking and payment history
All-in-One Platform Benefits:
- Registration, attendance, and payments connected seamlessly
- No messy spreadsheets or missed invoices
- Directors see everything in one place: attendance, balances, and communications
- Staff saves hours previously spent on manual reconciliation
Special Early Adopter Offer
Through December 2025, EduTrak is offering an early adopter program with a $1,000 perpetual license that includes both the Checkmate attendance system and complete childcare billing components. This limited-time offer is perfect for districts ready to modernize attendance tracking and program billing.
Why childcare automation matters: Every hour spent chasing payments or reconciling spreadsheets is time pulled from actually running quality programs. EduTrak’s childcare solution gives staff time back to focus on creating great care environments instead of managing paperwork.
Total Lunchroom Suite: Complete Food Service Ecosystem
EduTrak has achieved a major milestone by launching the Total Lunchroom Suite—the first fully integrated K-12 food service solution that connects every aspect of cafeteria operations from menu planning to payment collection.
Four Integrated Components:
1. Point of Sale & Free and Reduced Management:
- Streamlined meal payments with multiple payment options
- Automated Free & Reduced eligibility processing
- Faster checkout lines with cashless payment options
- Real-time balance updates for parents and administrators
2. Menu Planning & Nutrient Analysis (Powered by Health-e Pro):
- USDA-compliant menu planning tools
- Comprehensive allergen tracking
- Beautiful, filterable online menus for parents
- Mobile-friendly menu access
3. Inventory & Ordering (Powered by BOSS by Integra):
- Automated ingredient tracking
- Smart ordering systems that connect to menu plans
- Production planning tied directly to recipes
- Complete visibility into food costs and usage
4. Parent Portal & Communications:
- Mobile-friendly parent dashboard
- Real-time balance management
- Daily menu viewing with dietary filters
- Cashless checkout options families actually use
Why It’s Revolutionary
Through strategic partnerships with Health-e Pro and BOSS by Integra, EduTrak now manages, supports, and integrates all three platforms, delivering what Co-CEO David Belford calls “the most comprehensive and high-end solution in K-12 food service.”
The complete ecosystem delivers:
- Faster cafeteria lines
- Fewer billing errors
- Total visibility for nutrition teams and business offices
- Automatic Free and Reduced application updates
- Parent balances that sync in real time
- One system, one login, less manual work
As David Belford explains: “EduTrak has always been strong in front of the house systems: point of sale, payments, compliance, and billing. Now we’ve filled in the final gap. The addition of menu planning and inventory opens up new possibilities for efficiency, insight, and control.”
A Letter from Co-CEO David Belford: Customer-Focused Innovation
David Belford’s November 6, 2025 letter reflects on one of EduTrak’s most exciting years, emphasizing renewed focus on long-standing customer relationships and face-to-face engagement.
Key Highlights:
Reconnecting with Customers: Sales and account teams have made it a priority to reconnect with districts, understand daily software usage, and ensure continued delivery of quality, reliability, and innovation.
Mission Reaffirmed: “Our mission has always been simple: to make schools better through better tools. Whether that means helping districts collect and track funds more efficiently, manage reimbursements more accurately, or increase participation in their nutrition and activity programs, everything we do comes back to improving how schools operate while saving them time and money.”
On-Site Visits Available: Belford and Co-CEO Brady invite districts to schedule facility visits where they can walk through operations, observe software usage firsthand, and optimize implementations.
Tuition Solutions Continue Growing: Now in its fourth year, EduTrak’s tuition product has become one of the most flexible billing systems on the market, perfect for:
- Recurring tuition payments
- Tuition agreements and payment plans
- Special programs like field trips, camps, and extracurriculars
- Activity fee management
Looking Ahead: “It’s been a remarkable year of progress, and 2026 is shaping up to be even more exciting. Thank you for being part of the EduTrak community. Your partnership continues to inspire what we build next.”
Employee Spotlight: Karen Knight – 15 Years of Real Support
Food Service Product Specialist and Trainer Karen Knight celebrates 15 years with EduTrak this December, embodying the company’s core value of “Real Support.”
Her EduTrak Journey:
Karen’s path to tech support was unconventional. After owning a large restaurant/bar/ballroom/catering service, a Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis 32 years ago forced a career change. She never imagined working in tech support but has found her calling at EduTrak.
What She Loves Most:
- Onboarding and training new customers
- Answering support calls and spending time helping customers
- Building first-name relationships with district staff
- Providing excellent, personalized customer service
What “Real Support” Means to Karen: “Real Support is something I take to heart. I truly value our customers and understand how important it is for them to get fast, reliable answers when they need help. Whether it’s through a phone call, a Zoom meeting, or an email, I want every customer to feel heard, supported, and valued.”
Personal Life: Born and raised in rural Minnesota, Karen enjoys reading, cooking, baking, and spending time with her 13 grandchildren. She’s an avid sports fan, especially following major league baseball, pro football, and college wrestling (Go Gophers!).
EduTrak’s remote work flexibility has been essential, allowing Karen to manage the challenges of working with a disability while continuing to deliver exceptional customer support.
How to Get Support from EduTrak’s Team
Multiple Support Channels:
- Submit a Support Ticket: Access through the Admin Site under Support Tab > Contact Support
- Call Direct: 1-800-934-2621 (have TeamViewer ready when calling)
- Email Questions: Contact Martin Latimer at Martin.Latimer@edutrak.com
The support team is committed to providing fast, reliable assistance when districts need help.
Share Your Success: Testimonials Wanted
EduTrak is asking satisfied customers to share their experiences. When schools are deciding whether to implement new software, they want to hear from administrators who’ve been there.
What They’re Looking For:
- Short, honest testimonials about positive experiences
- Stories about problems solved or processes streamlined
- Quick video calls or written feedback
- No pressure to write lengthy reviews—just a few words about what stood out
Why It Matters: Testimonials are one of the most powerful tools for helping other schools make informed decisions. If EduTrak made your school year easier, solved a tricky problem, or helped operations run smoothly, your story could help another district.
Interested in sharing your story? Reach out to the EduTrak team to participate.
Final Bytes: Irresistible Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
The newsletter closes with a simple, seasonal recipe perfect for gray fall days:
Roasted Butternut Squash Soup:
- Peel and cube one butternut squash, toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper
- Roast at 400°F until soft and slightly browned
- Sauté onion and garlic in a pot
- Add roasted squash and cover with broth
- Simmer for 10 minutes, then blend until smooth
- Stir in a splash of cream or coconut milk, taste, and season
- Serve with grilled cheese or croutons
As the newsletter notes: “This one’s hard to mess up and tastes like fall in a bowl.”
The Bottom Line: Innovation Meets Partnership
EduTrak’s Q4 2025 newsletter demonstrates a company hitting its stride—launching innovative new products while deepening relationships with existing customers. From comprehensive childcare management to complete food service ecosystems, EduTrak continues delivering on its mission to make schools better through better tools.
Ready to modernize your school’s childcare or food service operations?
Schedule a Demo – See Checkmate and the Total Lunchroom Suite in action
Contact Sales – Call 1-800-934-2621 or email for more information
Early Adopter Program – Limited-time $1,000 perpetual license through December 2025
EduTrak Software: Making Schools Better Through Better Tools | Trusted by K-12 Districts Nationwide Since 2010