COVID cases bring pause for Alton 7th grade Ron DeBrock, ronald.debrock@thetelegraph.com FacebookTwitterEmail Baumgartner ALTON — School officials on Thursday announced an “adaptive pause” for a portion of Alton Middle School because of COVID-19. In a letter to parents, Superintendent Kristie Baumgartner said the district was taking the action after four individuals at the school tested positive for COVID-19. “We are working directly with the Madison County Health Department on this matter to promptly identify and notify any persons who have had recent close contact (within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more) with the COVID-19 positive individuals,” Baumgartner said in her letter.