BETHEL — Installation of the Telstar High and Middle School’s new sign was not only a lesson in research and working together, but also a civics lesson in local government.

The new digital, lighted sign was installed the day before Thanksgiving. The first message said simply, “Welcome to Telstar,” then gave the time and temperature.

“The school is really looking great,” said Sign Committee member Jamie Steven, a junior.

Plans started more than 18 months ago to replace the 25-year-old manual sign. About a dozen students and several staff members, led by social studies teacher David Leclerc and Principal Dan Hart, researched the various signs available to them. They settled on one from Stewart Signs in Sarasota, Fla.

“We wanted an official name and a digital screen so we could have two messages at the same time,” Steven said.

The total cost for the sign is $18,000. So far, thanks to many local businesses and organizations, about $15,000 has been raised. The two-sided sign was installed by a local business at no cost.

Before the sign could be ordered, the students learned that such signs weren’t allowed in the town when they appeared before the Board of Selectmen. From there, they went to the Planning Board, then to the Board of Appeals for a variance.

The design on the top of the roughly 8- by 6-foot sign, plus a 4-foot pedestal, was created by high school art teacher Tim Kavanaugh and his art class. It shows a T inside a star with a blue background.

The sign is also another part of the overall refurbishing of the school that is celebrating is 40th anniversary this year.

Also last week, a new security gate to cordon off classrooms and corridors during events taking place after school hours and during other school events, was installed.

Earlier this year, a group of students and local businesspeople painted many of the rooms and cleaned up the school. Another similar community work day is scheduled for the spring.

“This town is a big supporter of our school,” said senior Amanda Wiley, a Sign Committee member.

The new sign, which is operated from a computer inside the school, is not only modern, said Wiley, but it also keeps students warm and dry.

The old sign required students or staff to go outside, sometimes in 2 feet of snow, to replace the letters.

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Amanda Wiley, Jamie Steven, Kallie Brown and Morgan Lee are shown with Telstar Regional Middle and High School’s new digital sign in Bethel.