TOMS RIVER, N.J. — The legal fallout surrounding the Ocean County Vocational Technical School’s Performing Arts Academy continues to grow as a third civil lawsuit has now been filed alleging a decades-long pattern of sexual misconduct, administrative failures, and retaliation against those who tried to expose abuse.
The latest filing comes as former students, a former instructor, and multiple whistleblowers accuse school administrators and public officials of ignoring warning signs, discouraging reports of misconduct, and protecting the institution’s reputation instead of students.
Despite the growing number of lawsuits and criminal prosecutions involving former teachers, few public officials have commented publicly on the allegations, and questions remain about ongoing state and county investigations.
Lawsuits describe culture that allegedly enabled abuse
The three civil lawsuits paint a similar picture of the Performing Arts Academy, alleging blurred boundaries between staff and students, grooming behavior, and repeated failures by administrators to intervene despite warnings.
A third civil lawsuit filed in Ocean County Superior Court alleges that a former student identified only as “R.T.” was sexually abused by former Performing Arts Academy teacher Douglas Bollinger while attending the Ocean County Vocational Technical School Performing Arts Academy. The complaint names Bollinger, the Ocean County Vocational Technical School Board of Education, the Performing Arts Academy, former principal and superintendent Karen Homiek, and unidentified school employees as defendants. The lawsuit alleges the abuse occurred while the plaintiff was a minor and claims school officials failed to protect students despite years of warning signs.
Beyond the allegations involving the plaintiff, the complaint asserts that the Performing Arts Academy fostered a long-standing culture that blurred professional boundaries between teachers and students. It alleges the school operated more like “an adult social club” than a traditional high school, with unsupervised teacher-student interactions, private meetings, off-campus socializing, and inadequate oversight. The lawsuit further claims administrators prioritized the school’s reputation and funding over student safety by allowing inappropriate conduct to continue unchecked.
The lawsuit also expands on allegations previously raised in other litigation involving the academy, asserting that administrators had actual or constructive notice of inappropriate conduct by multiple staff members, including former teacher Zachary Slater, who has since pleaded guilty in a criminal case. According to the complaint, school officials failed to report allegations to authorities, discouraged staff from documenting concerns, and suppressed internal complaints instead of investigating them. These allegations remain unproven and have not been tested in court.
The 50-page complaint seeks compensatory and punitive damages under multiple legal theories, including the New Jersey Child Sexual Abuse Act, negligence, institutional liability, and the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination. It alleges that Bollinger’s conduct was enabled by the authority delegated to him by the school and that district officials negligently hired, retained, supervised, and failed to monitor him despite numerous alleged red flags. The case is docketed as OCN-L-002408-26 and is identified in the filing as a companion case to an earlier lawsuit arising from the same allegations involving the Performing Arts Academy.
- Three civil lawsuits now allege systemic failures at Ocean County Vocational Technical School’s Performing Arts Academy.
- Former teachers Douglas Bollinger and Zachary Slater have pleaded guilty in separate criminal cases involving students.
- Former instructor Robert Yaiser alleges he was retaliated against after reporting student safety concerns and misconduct.
The lawsuits further allege that students and employees who reported misconduct were ignored, disciplined, or retaliated against while administrators sought to shield the academy from negative publicity.
The allegations remain civil claims that have not been proven in court.
Criminal cases fueled broader investigation
The civil litigation follows criminal prosecutions involving former teachers at the academy.
Former theater teacher Douglas J. Bollinger was arrested in 2024 and later pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a student on multiple occasions both on and off school property.
Former audio production instructor Zachary M. Slater also pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child after admitting to a sexual relationship with a student before resigning from the district.
Those criminal cases have become central to the broader allegations that district officials failed to identify or stop inappropriate conduct despite repeated warning signs.
FBI Investigating?
Several former school officials and county officials have told Shore News Network that they have been contacted about the Federal Bureau of Investigation after state OAG and County law enforcement failed to investigate the systemic abuse of children. This could not be confirmed by the FBI. The FBI has not responded to requests for comment on this matter.
Whistleblower says retaliation followed safety complaints
The expanding controversy also includes a separate whistleblower lawsuit filed by Robert Yaiser, a retired New Jersey State Police major who taught law enforcement at the Performing Arts Academy.
Yaiser alleges he repeatedly reported concerns involving student safety, bullying, racial harassment, and inappropriate staff conduct before ultimately being suspended without pay, facing tenure charges, and losing his job.
According to the lawsuit, Yaiser believes the district retaliated against him because he continued raising concerns internally and publicly after administrators failed to act.
The lawsuit also names county officials and alleges broader failures in oversight.
Those allegations likewise remain unproven and are being contested through the court system.
FAQ
- What is the latest lawsuit about?
The newest lawsuit alleges administrators enabled a culture that allowed sexual misconduct, failed to protect students, and retaliated against those who reported concerns. - How many lawsuits have been filed?
Three civil lawsuits have now been filed involving allegations surrounding the Performing Arts Academy. - Have any teachers been criminally convicted?
Yes. Former teachers Douglas Bollinger and Zachary Slater pleaded guilty in separate criminal cases involving sexual misconduct with students. - Who is Robert Yaiser?
Yaiser is a retired New Jersey State Police major and former OCVTS instructor who filed a whistleblower lawsuit alleging retaliation after reporting student safety concerns. - Has the state responded?
Reports indicate the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office has opened an investigation. Public officials, including county leadership and district officials, have largely declined to comment publicly while litigation remains pending.
Sources: Ocean County Superior Court civil filings; criminal court records; Levy Law; Interview by SNN with whistleblower Robert Yaiser.
