UPDATE:
We resolved issue #1
For issue #2 – what we need to be able to do is pass a category into the search page and have that category auto-populate it with initial results. But then, when a new category is checked, we do not want the auto-populated results to limit the search with the new selections – but rather to return all the items for the newly select category.
Please see this link: https://geniecast.com/category-test/?wpv-category=personal-development
Rather than pass in the search term “personal development” – we would rather have it auto populate using that category from our taxonomy. Then, if a person checks off another box on the left, those OLD results will go away and the NEW ones will load. If you try now and check off K-12, you will see there are only 2 results – but there should be 6 total. I think the auto population term is limiting the result set.