Ex-Educator Accused Of Sexual Conduct With Student At Morris Co. District

ROCKAWAY, NJ — A former school band director, who was arrested last month for sex crimes against a student, now faces new accusations of sexually assaulting a student while he worked for the Morris Hills Regional District.

The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office announced that Kurt Zimmerman, 55, of Rockaway has been charged with three additional counts of second-degree sexual assault. The alleged assault took place more than 20 years ago, officials said.

In February, prosecutors accused Zimmermann of having sexual conduct with a former student while he was the director of bands for the Westwood Regional School District in Bergen County. The reported sexual conduct took place on school grounds at Westwood Regional Middle School and Westwood Regional High School.

The student was between the ages of 13 and 17 at the time, said officials in charging Zimmerman with three counts of aggravated criminal sexual contact, and one count of second-degree child endangering

On Thursday, Prosecutor Mark Musella said Zimmerman was also charged with having sexual conduct with a juvenile student in the Morris Hills district, where he previously worked.

The student was between 16 and 18 years old at the time, prosecutors said. Officials did not indicate whether the alleged sexual contact took place on school grounds.

In a letter to parents, Morris Hills Regional Schools superintendent Nicholas Norcia said Zimmerman used to work for the district as an activity advisor. Norcia added that law enforcement told district officials that Zimmerman's alleged unlawful conduct occurred more than 20 years ago.

"We understand that this matter does not involve any current MHRD students, faculty, or staff," Norcia wrote Thursday.

He also said that Zimmerman is restricted from accessing all Morris Hills Regional District property and events.

"Our priority remains providing a safe and supportive educational community," Norcia said. "Please know that we have taken every step to protect our community. We appreciate our partnership with law enforcement and their immediate and proactive communication with us regarding this matter."

Zimmerman's last place of employment was listed as the Hopatcong School District, and according to his LinkedIn page he was the Director of Bands for that district for 10 years. Patch's request for comment to Hopatcong Schools last month was not returned.

On Jan. 3, 2024, the Hopatcong Police Department contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit regarding alleged sexual conduct between a teacher and a student in Westwood, officials said.

An investigation determined that Zimmermann, "while previously employed by the Westwood Regional School District as the director of bands, engaged in sexual conduct with a juvenile student between the ages of 13 and 17 on more than one occasion," Musella said in February.

Anyone with additional information about the case is encouraged to contact the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Tips Line at (201) 226-5532.