Helena-area candidates running for state legislative seats told members of a grassroots group a little bit about themselves and asked those in the room for their vote come election time.
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Magento powers 0.6% of all websites. DesignRush reached out to experts to discover the top Magento extensions businesses can leverage.
MIAMI, Sept. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- According to W3Techs, Magento is one of the most popular eCommerce platforms that powers 0.6% of all websites. The platform comes equipped with numerous themes and custom extensions that businesses can leverage to enhance the appearance of their online stores and capture more customers.
DesignRush, a B2B marketplace connecting businesses with agencies, leveraged its 16,000-agencies-strong network for quick insights – or "QuickSights" – on the top Magento extensions businesses can use and how.
1) MICRO-INTERACTIONS
In the opinion of Vipul Tanna, senior project manager at Ace Infoway, businesses should leverage micro-interactions to allow for a more personal touch and Boost user experience.
"One of my favorite additions to Magento is leveraging micro-interactions, to enhance the user experience," said Tanna. "Using JavaScript, Magento developers can enable engaging micro-interactions. Use it for call-to-action content, it adds a more personal touch to draw users to your website and keep them on the page for a longer period of time."
2) MAGENTO 2 WHATSAPP CHAT
MagentoBrain Founder Rakesh Donga claims that Magento 2 WhatsApp Chat is a great extension to enhance customer experience.
"Customers have tons of questions when making specific purchases or ordering a product online," said Donga. "To resolve their queries, they always want to get an immediate response instead of spending more time talking to customer support and raising a request for assistance. Magento 2 WhatsApp Chat extension helps Boost the customer experience by allowing customers to contact Magento store owners with a single button click."
3) SEARCHANISE
According to Aakash Goyal, designated partner at Cloudester, Searchanise offers robust features that help enhance user experience and increase conversions.
"Searchanise is the most advanced smart search and upselling tool for Magento stores that businesses must use to boost user experience and conversion rates," said Goyal. "It offers faster, personalized and filterable search and cross-sell and upsell features to help businesses maximize their sales and revenue. Using the typo-corrections, in-search product reviews, and prices, customers can have streamlined shopping experiences."
4) GOOGLE ANALYTICS 4
As stated by Oleksandr Shakhnovskyi, Magento tech lead at MageCloud, Magento store owners should take advantage of Google Analytics 4 to receive smart insights on their audience.
"In about a year, starting July 2023, the current Google Universal Analytics (GA 3) will stop working," said Shakhnovskyi. "Our Magento clients are mass asking to make a switch to the next generation of GA. Magento store owners should leverage this extension to keep track of their shoppers' actions, understand their behavior and get smarter insights to decrease bounce rates and Boost ROI."
5) INSTAGRAM CONNECT
Murli Pawar, VP at TechnoScore, recommends installing the Instagram Connect extension for Magento 2 store owners as a way to bring more website traffic.
"We recommend the Magento 2 Instagram Connect extension as it is result-oriented and easy to configure," said Pawar. "It fetches all posts from your Instagram account to your store. Using the product's tag, you can hashtag eye-catching Instagram images with keywords and drive more traffic to your Magento 2 store."
DesignRush released the September list of the best Magento development companies that help businesses set and run fully functional and feature-rich online stores that engage and convert visitors.
1. Ace Infoway - aceinfoway.com
Expertise: Web Development, Platform Migration, App Development and more
2. Allinclusive. - allinclusive.agency
Expertise: eCommerce Solutions, Web Development, Web Design and more
3. SITE IT NOW - siteitnow.com
Expertise: Web Design, Web Development, eCommerce Solutions and more
4. MagentoBrain - magentobrain.com
Expertise: Magento Development, Magento Migration Services, Magento Theme Development and more
5. Cloudester - cloudester.com
Expertise: Web Development, App Development, SEO and more
6. Sprybit - sprybit.com
Expertise: Web Design, Web Development, eCommerce Development and more
7. Global Dezigns - globaldezigns.com
Expertise: eCommerce Development, Web Maintenance, Web Hosting and more
8. ValueCoders - valuecoders.com
Expertise: App Development, Web App Development, eCommerce Development and more
9. MageCloud - magecloud.agency
Expertise: Magento Development, WordPress Development, Shopify Development and more
10. TechnoScore - technoscore.com
Expertise: App Development, Web Design & Development, eCommerce Development and more.
11. Ecommage - ecommage.com
Expertise: Magento Enterprise & Cloud Hosting, AWS Cloud Services, Magento Development and more
12. SAM WEB Studio - samwebstudio.com
Expertise: Web Design & Development, eCommerce Development, Digital Marketing and more
13. Perspective Studio - perspective.net.ua
Expertise: Magento Development, Magento 2 Integration, Magento Security Audit and more
14. World Web Technology - worldwebtechnology.com
Expertise: Web & CMS Development, eCommerce Development, App Development and more
15. Elogic - elogic.co
Expertise: Web Development, eCommerce Web Design, Consulting and more
Brands can explore the top Magento development companies by location, size, average hourly rate and portfolio on DesignRush.
About DesignRush:
DesignRush.com is a B2B marketplace connecting businesses with agencies through expert reviews and agency ranking lists, awards, knowledge resources and personalized agency recommendations for vetted projects.
Media Contact
Maja Dukadinovska, DesignRush, 8008565417, maja@designrush.com
SOURCE DesignRush
A PROFESSIONAL bra fitter has revealed the reason you may be able to see your bra outline through your shirt.
Kimmay, who is from the US, took to TikTok and shared an informative video which she captioned: "Some reasons you’re seeing your bra outline through your shirt! This problem is SO common, but here are some solutions that can help."
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In the clip, the bra guru begins: "Usually seeing the outline of your bra means it doesn't fit properly.
"Either it's gapping because the cup is a little bit too big or more likely, the band is too loose so it's riding up and then causing your cups to fall forward and for that shape to be seen.
It can also be too small, so if it's too tight and you're spilling out, you're going to see that bubble as well."
Kimmay goes on to say that another reason could be that it's just worn out.
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"If you have a moulded contour cup like this ans you've been folding one cup into another, then this one will actually start to roll a little bit," she says.
"It could also be losing its elasticity in the band…
"It might not also be the right style for your bust so if you have really soft tissue or tend to spill out no matter what, don't opt for something that's too much of a plunge."
She adds: "Instead get something that's full coverage like this, or have some coverage and some stretch or flexibility to it.
"If you're looking for a super smooth look underneath something, maybe opt for a smooth cup and don't go for lace or a seamed cup."
The post has since garnered a whopping 51,000 views and been flooded with comments from grateful women up and down the country.
"Great info!" enthused one.
A second commented: "Awesome post! Thank you!"
A third penned: "Mine is always showing under, like the wire under the cup and I don’t know what I’m doing wrong!"
Meanwhile, another added: "Oh my gosh the band thing makes so much sense!"
If you already have an account please use the link below to sign in.
If you have any problems with your access or would like to request an individual access account please contact our customer service team.
Phone: +44 (0) 1858 438800
Email: [email protected]
Whether you're moving into a walk-up apartment building in the city or a new house in the suburbs, it always helps to have an extra pair of hands. By hiring a moving company, you're guaranteeing you're not alone in the move.
There are many services and options moving companies can offer — from helping you box up items to storing items you're not sure you want in your new home. There's also another priceless benefit: your time.
Are you Getting ready to move? If so, start comparing moving companies now. There are several reputable moving companies out there, and some may be more popular than others, depending on your location. Don't get caught up in social media marketing campaigns or colorful advertisements. Instead, focus on what each company has to offer.
The best place to start is by getting a free quote. Click on the websites below to learn more.
5 reasons to hire a mover
There are countless reasons to hire a professional if you're preparing to move. But let's start with some of the most valuable reasons:
Safety
You've heard of the phrase "safety comes first," and in this case, that holds true. If you hire a professional mover, then you won't have to do the heavy lifting (literally). Moving companies have all of the necessary equipment to help with heavy boxes and other large items. Plus, they have a ramp to help movers carry your items into trucks with ease.
Speed
When you call a moving company and list out the items and furniture you need to be moved, they'll likely determine the size of the truck and the number of employees who will need to assist. The more help you have, the faster your move will be. And remember, these employees are professionals, so they have a specific process and checklist they follow to ensure a fast and efficient move.
Experience
If you don't move regularly or have experience driving a trailer or truck, then perhaps you should leave it to the professionals. If you're moving a short distance and don't have many items, then it may be more cost-effective for you to rent your own vehicle and box up items on your own. However, if you're not confident in your moving skills, then it may be time to tap a professional.
Make sure that the company you pick has the appropriate license and paperwork. You can search the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's database to check on a moving company's registration status, safety information complaints and more.
Added protection
One of the biggest benefits of using a professional moving company is extra protection for your valuables. Most moving companies offer insurance options. Some even require it.
So, make sure you inquire about their different plans so you can protect your prized possessions and add extra protection for your current and future home (in case walls, elevators, etc. get damaged during the move). Before signing anything, Consumer Reports suggests checking your homeowner's policy to see if also would cover lost or damaged items for some added peace of mind.
Head to the company's website or call its listed number to learn more about its insurance plans and other necessary paperwork.
Special requests
If you have items that require specific care and handling, then don't try to move them alone. For example, there are certain ways movers care for special items such as a grandfather clock or grand piano. You may also need a piece of furniture disassembled and reassembled in your new home. These are all special requests that could delay your move or cause you a headache.
Here are some extra services you should look for:
- Packing and unpacking (and if they have their own packing equipment)
- Vehicle transportation to your final destination
- Storage availability
- 24/7 customer service (in case of emergencies)
- Furniture disassembly and reassembly
All of these perks could make your move even easier. But before you pick a moving company, make sure you do your research. See what type of services and discounts they offer.
How to prepare for a move
Once you've thoroughly compared moving companies, it's time to make your choice. You'll want to pick one that works best for your bank account, schedule and overall moving needs (i.e. if you need extra storage, auto transport, etc.).
When you have the move scheduled, make sure you create a checklist to help you prepare. Here are some things you should consider doing ahead of your move.
- Double-check the company's rules: Is a deposit required? Do you need to pay anything in advance? Do you need to use certain types of boxes? Make sure you read your moving company's rules and guidelines ahead of time.
- Fill out any necessary forms: Check to see if they have insurance policies or any other forms you need to submit.
- Give a full account of your items: The more accurate you are, the better. Don't surprise movers with extra furniture or items because that will likely add to your total costs. Call ahead if you want to add extra boxes, bags or items to your list. On the other hand, if you remove any items, make sure to tell them that, too, so they can update your cost estimate.
- Have cash on hand: Most movers recommend tipping your movers in cash, so make sure you have some available so you don't have to rush to an ATM the day of.
- Pack in advance (if you aren't using packing services): Make sure all of your belongings are safely secured and labeled. Place boxes in a central location to make the process smoother.
If you have any questions about your move or your moving company's services, make sure to give them a call. It's better to get your questions answered in advance so there are no surprises come moving day.
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – Mental Health certified are looking to find solutions to a shortage of workers nationwide, specifically in Fort Wayne.
It’s a known issue across Indiana and comes as the Indiana Behavioral Health Commission sent their final report to the Indiana General Assembly. The report contains 56 pages including a thorough examination of Indiana’s behavioral health delivery system.
The need for more Behavioral Health and Mental Health certified is listed, with current challenges, barriers, and possible solutions included. Challenges mentioned include low wages and high caseloads resulting in burnout.
Janel Lane, Co-founder of Courageous Healing Incorporated, can attest to this.
“The demand is at an all time high and people who are entering into the field just hasn’t caught up to the level of need right now,” Lane said, “So there’s a lot of pressure for organizations and agencies to do the best they can to not get a wait list.”
Lane says it has been hard balancing the care of staff while trying to meet the need and demand of clients. She recalls a day that the phone at Courageous Healing rang once every seven minutes, with people wanting to register.
Cheryl Shepherd, Director of Human Resource at Bowen Center, says they are experiencing burn out, larger case loads, and longer wait times.
“We see a lot of people that are mission driven meeting their mission, but they’re also having a lot of issues with burnout and that’s hard to balance sometimes,” Shepherd said.
Lane says there’s a major need for funding support. Now that seeking help for mental health needs is being normalized, she sees more people wanting to enter into the field. That comes with more interns and associate level licensed specialist who insurance will not allow to bill for their services, which discourages them from continuing on.
There are also things that go into obtaining a license such as supervision hours in which interns have to pay out of pocket for. Lane says some people can not afford to do this.
So what can be done? The report suggests increasing Medicaid rates to support competitive hiring and retention, reducing barriers by expanding universal licensure recognition language to behavioral health licenses, and allowing funds for a student loan repayment program for behavioral health professionals who commit to working in Indiana and serving underserved communities.
Shepherd mentioned that she’d like to see the addition of offering telehealth and telephonic services, as well as reimbursement rates.
“I really think it’s important to increase that reimbursement rate that we’re getting for services we’re providing in order to be able to attract and retain the staff to provide high quality services,” Shepherd said.
Right now, Shepherd and Lane both say their organizations have created systems to work efficiently while meeting current demands. Shepherd says the Bowen Center is focusing on providing staff with the proper care in attempt to control burnout.
“Providing all of the services they need for their own self care, mental health care, and support,” Shepherd said, “Also making sure they have the training and education they need to provide those services, and continuing to recruit and find new talent and find those people who are mission driven that can come alongside and meet that need too.”
Lane says Courageous Healing is implementing a solution they came up with, the six session model which aims to provide brief therapy and trauma centered therapy.
“We tell our therapist to show up fully and authentically which gives them permission to show up and be fully themselves, it helps people trust them and then we get right to work so it doesn’t take three to six sessions to build rapport,” Lane said, “Clients if we’re helping to offset any costs of their counseling they start with six sessions. If they need more they can apply for more, however we aim to make an impact within those six sessions.”
Lane says because of this system, they rarely have a waiting list and are able to get people the help they need quicker.
“We have to stay on our toes and continue to innovate as the problems are changing, needs are changing, demand is changing, COVID changed a lot of things and we have to be flexible in the field,” Lane said.
The forum at the Montana Club downtown on Thursday was sponsored by Hometown Helena, and each candidate was given four minutes to address the audience. There was no debate among the candidates who instead mostly focused on experience, goals and other reasons why they were running.
Election Day is Nov. 8. Ballots are mailed out Oct. 13.
The following are the Helena-area races, candidates and some of what was said:
Senate District 41
Janet Ellis, incumbent Democrat, discussed her work the Audubon Society and other conservation work. She said she has been on budget track her whole time in the Legislature.
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She noted she has served in either the House of Representatives or Senate since 2015. Ellis said the Legislature meets for four months every other year, “so experience really matters.” And she noted her familiarity with the state budget and how she was able to influence it.
Ellis said that as a Democrat, she is in the minority and has to work across the aisle. She said the fact she is on seven interim committees shows she is willing to seek cooperation and compromise.
Dave Galt, the Republican challenger, was born and raised in Lewistown and said he has lived in eastern and western Montana. He said he was a surveyor for Montana Department of Transportation (DOT).
He said he was introduced to the state Legislature in 1987 when he served as an administrator for the state’s motor carrier services. He said he was named DOT director in 2000 by Republican Gov. Judy Martz.
Afterward, he was hired by Montana Petroleum Association to be its executive director.
He said he still does contract advocacy work and spends spends a lot of time working on health issues with particular interest in children.
Senate District 42
Republican Matt Olson touted his business background and said he and his wife ran the Dairy Queen in Helena for 28 years and sold it in 2020.
He said he wants to create a more prosperous Montana.
“My message is simple,” he said. “I think we can do better.”
Olson mentioned the state’s lack of affordable housing, health care and epidemic drug problem. He said he believes the state can do better for seniors as there are too many stories of seniors hurt by inflation. He said the state needs to do better to support law enforcement and provide all help necessary to fight fentanyl.
Democrat Mary Ann Dunwell, who was attending a memorial service for her sister, spoke by video. She said she is in her eighth year of serving in the state House and is now running for senate because she wants to keep serving the people of Montana.
Dunwell said her sister’s death strengthened her resolve to keep working for a Montana economy that works for everyone and hardworking families. She wants to keep working on issues such as housing, health care and affordable child care. She also wants to keep working to protect the Montana Constitution and all the rights it affords.
House District 79
Republican Keith Pigman said the city needs services such as sewer and wants to work with the city commission on infrastructure issues. He said the state needs to develop a philosophy of rational development to solve its housing crisis.
He said Montana needs to accept a little bit of change to grow.
Pigman said he has a lot of issues with government regulations and that is why he is running.
He said the state has too many restrictions and will work hard to make sure the proper bills get passed.
Democrat Laura Smith said she is a former federal prosecutor who prosecuted violent crimes and sexual assault. She also served several years as deputy director of the Department of Public Health and Human Services.
Smith said her experience as an attorney provided a strong foundation for work in the Legislature.
She said she wants to make sure there is a safe future for the next generation.
Smith said she has been hearing mostly on the campaign trail about the affordability of housing and child care, and more providers are needed.
House District 81
Democrat Melissa Romano said her experience as an educator will help her in the Legislature.
She said on the campaign trail she is hearing about affordable housing. She said she is passionate about pre-education. Romano said she would seek and support legislation that eases a family’s ability to provide access to health care.
She said she wanted to see a happy and healthy Montana. Romano said she would work across the aisle with legislators to find solutions. And she said she was a skilled leader.
Republican Jill Sark talked about her career with the state.
She said she had no college education as she had to help support her family at a young age. She said she worked in public assistance and learned to apply federal and state policies to a person.
She worked in various state departments. She was program director of the Insure Montana Program at the State Auditor’s Office. She recently retired as bureau chief for the Department of Public Health and Human Services Community Services Bureau, where she managed several Medicaid programs for Montana’s elderly and people with physical disabilities.
Sark called for Medicaid reform and more government oversight.
House District 84
Democrat Jill Cohenour said she will work to make sure agriculture remains one of the state’s greatest assets.
She said she is a product of public schools, and was proud to be a union president and a public employee. She believes in advocacy for workers.
She said many public employees are not making the wages they should be making and are either leaving state government or moving away.
Affordable housing and affordable child care are two of the hot Topics she is hearing about on the campaign trail. She said she wants to continue work on property tax relief and other important Topics for Montana.
Republican Kaitlyn Ruch said she was raised with faith, family and freedom and has been taught to work hard. She said she graduated early from Helena High School and has spent the past year being out in the world.
She said she served as a legislative page in the last session because she wanted to get involved and enjoyed observing the process. She said she has found that representatives are accessible and she can see herself sitting in one of those chairs.
Ruch, who is now in college, said she has insight as to how the education system works. She said public education is a great system but it is not for everyone. She wants to make sure opportunities are available for students.
House District 80
Republican Becky Beard is unopposed in her reelection.
She spoke about her work on water and sewer grants and how regulations and permits have doubled costs. She said many communities cannot afford the high prices.
Beard said she serves on several prominent committees.
House District 82
Democrat Mary Caferro said this is her 12th campaign. She said the Legislature has bolstered community services for people with mental illness.
She said there is a group of legislators from both sides of the aisle who work together to get things done.
She said serving in the Legislature provides her with the opportunity to help people.
Republican Alden Tonkay did not attend the forum.
House District 83
Democrat incumbent Kim Abbott said she has worked on complicated compromises as a legislator and is focused on making sure the system works better to offer insurance to nearly 100,000 people.
She also said she has spent a lot of time getting infrastructure through. She said she would like to use some of the state surplus for permanent tax relief and invest in child care, education and housing, adding it will likely include private partnerships.
Republican Bob Leach did not attend the forum.
Assistant editor Phil Drake can be reached at 406-231-9021.
A BEAUTY lover has claimed the secret to having the perfect lips is to outline them with fake tan before you go to bed.
TikTok user Beka, who posts under @bekskerridge, demonstrated how it can lead to a well-defined lip line and lips looking fuller.
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In a video that has racked up 17,000 likes, the beauty fan said: “If you haven’t already outlined ur lips with fake tan at night wyd [what you doing]?
“Try this.”
Using a brush she applies the tan to the outer edges of her pout so it is darker in the morning.
Many people seemed very impressed with the fake tan hack and rushed to the comments to give their views.
One said: “I been doing this for years. Never used another liner again” to which Beka said: “Loveeee.”
Another fan added: “Best thing to do.”
After seeing the video, lots of TikTok users wrote that they want to try it out for themselves.
One said: “I might try it.”
And a second commented: “OK WAIT” to which Beka responded: “Trust!”
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Two incumbents are facing two challengers in a race for three seats on the Bolinas-Stinson Union School District board of trustees in the Nov. 8 elections.
Trustees Nathan Siedman, 40, a lawyer, and Arianne Dar, 62, an affordable housing advocate, are seeking new terms. Both are Bolinas residents.
Siedman has been board president for 10 years. Dar served on the board from 2002 to 2015 and was board president for 12 of those years. She came back as a trustee about a year and a half ago. Incumbent trustee Jennie Pfeiffer, whose term is also expiring, declined to seek reelection.
The other candidates are Doug Lee, 38, a civil engineer and musician, and Jacob Tonski, 45, an artist and former art professor. Both live in Bolinas and each has two children who attend the district’s school.
All the candidates said they are running because they are devoted to Bolinas-Stinson School, which covers pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade on two campuses. The school serves more than 120 students.
“I serve on our school board because I am passionate about education, considerate of the community’s input and skilled at balancing the competing needs of a public school,” said Siedman, a former student at the school.
“Public schools can provide students with both education and social mobility if they are adequately funded, organized efficiently and staffed by passionate professionals,” said Siedman, who graduated from Tamalpais High School, the University of California at Santa Barbara and the John F. Kennedy University School of Law.
Dar, who has a master’s degree in art education and a master of fine arts degree, said she is running to help the school navigate several transitions. One is the departure of district superintendent John Carroll, who was elected Marin superintendent of schools.
District trustees have chosen principal Michelle Stephens as interim superintendent and principal, effective in January.
“I have been serving a second stint on the board the past year and a half, and the school is currently going through a lot of changes,” Dar said. “It is helpful at times like these to have people familiar with school governance on the board. At the time I registered, not enough people had signed up to run.”
Lee said he is running for the first time because he feels drawn to support the school. In addition to his children being students there, his wife, Nuria Lee, is an art teacher at the school.
“I love our Bolinas-Stinson School, and I am a believer in public schools,” Lee said. “We are blessed to be served by an award-winning school which achieved exemplary arts program recognition here in California.”
Lee has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, with a minor in music.
“As an engineer, I understand the value of academics,” he said. “And, as a musician, I understand the value of the arts. I am committed to maintaining the strong arts program while upholding strong academics.”
Tonski, who moved to Bolinas with his family from Chicago nearly three years ago, said he was asked to run by community members who appreciate his energy on various school and community projects.
“I’m not actively campaigning,” Tonski said. “I don’t have an agenda and I don’t have a platform. I love the school and I just want to be of service.”
Tonski, who has 13 years experience in higher education, serves on the Bolinas-Stinson school site council. He also served on a board committee on school enrichment programs, resulting in the hiring of a bilingual outreach teacher and a performing arts teacher.
A tenured professor at the Art Institute of Chicago, Tonski recently resigned his post so he could devote his full attention to the Bolinas community and the school.
“We really love it here,” he said.
Tonski has a bachelor’s degree in computer science and a master of fine arts degree. He coordinated a rainwater savings storage program under the auspices of the Bolinas Community Public Utility District. The program resulted in the storage of 75,000 gallons in various private tanks.
All the candidates said their goal is to focus on students.
“I believe that successful public schools ultimately provide a community with educated, civically engaged adults,” Siedman said. “These are the goals that I have worked toward during my 10 years as board president.”
Dar said she would “assist in making the Bolinas school the most innovative, thoughtful, hands-on and fun learning environment it can be for both students and staff.”
Lee said he would “do what’s best for the students.”
“I will achieve this by listening to the school community and staff to understand the issues and help find solutions that most benefit our student’s needs,” he said.
Tonski said he would “do what it takes to keep the school awesome.”
The school’s campuses are on Olema-Bolinas Road in Bolinas and Shoreline Highway in Stinson Beach. The district office is at the Bolinas campus.
Five candidates are seeking to fill three open seats on the Mill Valley School District board of trustees in the Nov. 8 elections.
The candidates are Natalie Katz, 41, a former human resources specialist; Carol Morganstern, 46, a legal recruiter; Sharon Nakatani, 49, an architect; George Rosenfield, 60, manager of a mortgage banking firm; and Yunhee Yoo, 53, a former investment professional. All the candidates have children who attend district schools.
The election represents a majority turnover for the board. Three trustees whose terms are expiring — Marco Pardi, Todd May and Emily Uhlhorn — have declined to seek reelection. The remaining two trustees — Michele Crncich Hodge and Elli Abdoli — were elected in 2020.
All the candidates told the Independent Journal’s editorial board that their expertise in their respective professions, combined with their personal devotion as school parents, would help address the district’s main issue: rebuilding from the learning loss, enrollment decline and mental health effects of the pandemic.
They said that includes restoring civility and communication among the board members, teachers and administration after a period of divisiveness, and overseeing improvements to Mill Valley Middle School and the district’s five elementary schools using proceeds from the $194 million Measure G bond issue approved by voters in June.
On Measure G, Yoo and Nakatani said they have specific experience related to handling large construction budgets and design contracts. About $150 million of the bond issue is earmarked for a redesign and major renovation at the middle school.
Yoo, the mother of a third-grader, is a school volunteer, helping with book fairs, yard duty and other activities. She retired in 2018 from the post of chief investment officer for a firm she co-founded.
“I spent 25 years in finance, the last 10 years as a portfolio manager of an alternative credit fund focused on technology credit,” she said. “I sat on boards of a lot of different companies, and I also served as a mentor to a lot of different professionals.”
Yoo said she would “bring managerial and professional skills to our district board. I think this is important.”
In particular, she would push for targeted math assistance to children who are struggling, in addition to the English help the district already provides such students. She would also increase the number of school counselors.
Nakatani, a LEED-certified architect, said she would be helpful in overseeing the middle school rebuild. LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is an ecology-oriented building certification program.
“My professional expertise is with doing publicly funded LEED-certified education buildings,” she said.
An 18-year Mill Valley resident, Nakatani has two teenage daughters who have gone through Mill Valley schools and one attends the middle school. She has been a parent volunteer for 10 years and a PTA board member for four years.
Rosenfield, Katz and Morganstern, who have been running as a slate to support mutual goals and interests, said their work in finance, human resources and legal issues would help in various ways in the general recovery from the pandemic.
Rosenfield, a nine-year Marin resident, has twin daughters in third grade. He said he was involved in the school before the pandemic and remains involved.
“It’s a really a critical time now to rebuild schools, rebuild trust, rebuild relationships between the stakeholders — parents, teachers, administrators — and really all get on the same page and move toward a common goal of how do we support our kids academically, emotionally, and give them the best possible experience and outcomes,” he said.
He said he also would focus on test scores, curriculum improvements and promoting parent engagement.
Morganstern, the mother of a third-grader, said she started her career as a lawyer and then transitioned to legal recruiting. She is a partner in a global legal search firm.
“I’m also a professional negotiator with a position of trying to find the best outcome for everybody to have a good beginning,” she said. “It’s an unusual negotiation skill to make sure everybody is heard and is going to have the best possible outcome.”
Katz, who has two daughters, moved to Mill Valley in 2019. She has been involved in the community and the schools, and she said district parents and teachers encouraged her to run.
“Within the next year, I’m the only candidate who is going to have children across both the elementary and the middle schools,” she said. “That will translate to me being on the ground and best able to have regular, organic connection points with all stakeholders, and a direct view as a parent of the day-to-day operations of our schools.”
She said her goal is to “improve the rigor and equity” of both academics and socio-emotional learning, leading to “consistent positive outcomes.” she said.
“That’s where we’re seeing the gap right now,” she said.
In addition, she said her professional experience in human resources would support “bringing the community back together, leading with empathy, moving away from the divisiveness of the last few years, and ensuing transparency, so that everyone feels informed, that they are part of the solution.”
Rosenfield said that he, Morganstern and Katz are running as a slate to strengthen the parents’ voice.
“We all, in our own ways, have voiced our concerns about the schools and about the board,” he said. “We all felt a calling.”
Yoo said she is concerned that the slate, if elected, would erode the range of opinions on the board.
“It’s only going to be one voice,” she said. “We need diversity of opinions.”
Regarding declining enrollment, candidates said they believed there are two reasons why families have been leaving, both related to the pandemic: learning loss from remote instruction, and a lag in returning to in-person instruction. Enrollment in the district has declined almost 20% since 2019, according to the latest figures from Marin County Office of Education.
Candidates said they think the district could attract some families who might have left for private schools by focusing on strengthening all the schools and the schools’ support for each student, both academically and emotionally.
“There’s an intense sense of urgency to address learning loss,” Katz said.
On the issue of school security, a pressing Topic across the nation because of recent mass school shootings, none of the candidates said support having armed guards on campus.
However, they said they would seek to make sure each school has proper locks, gates, escape routes and other protections in place, and to make sure there was an open line of communication with Mill Valley police and fire departments. They would also seek to Boost Wi-Fi and cellphone service at school campuses.
Several candidates said the issue of mental health is more important to security than anything else.
“The more critical issue that we face is social wellness,” Morganstern said. “Our community has lost students to suicide, which, in my idea, is part of school safety and school security. We want to make sure we are supporting our kids.” A “wellness” center is planned at the middle school early next year, she said.
The district has assigned a counselor to each school, but some of those positions are vacant, Katz said.
“I want to make sure we are not just addressing physical security, but also addressing prevention, intervention and postvention,” she said. Postvention is support for families grieving over a suicide.
The candidates said the police station, which is about a block away from Mill Valley Middle School, has an assigned school resource officer.
All the candidates said they supported both traditional vaccine mandates for public school children and coronavirus vaccines. They said they would support a coronavirus vaccine mandate in the schools if science and research guidelines indicate it is necessary.
