2 Des Moines schools evacuated Thursday because of odor coming from science classroom, officials say

Two Des Moines schools were evacuated midday Thursday because of an odor, school officials said. 

Students at Hoyt Middle School and Brubaker Elementary School were told to exit the building so an odor that was causing some "mild irritations" to students could be investigated, said Phil Roeder, spokesman for Des Moines Public Schools. 

The odor is believed to have originated from a middle school science classroom, he said. The elementary school, which is attached to Hoyt Midddle School, was evacuated as a precaution, Roeder said. 

Brubaker students were returning to class after the fire department gave the all clear, the school system tweeted about 12:30 p.m. No source of an odor was found within Brubaker, according to the school system.

District environmental specialists are investigating, Roeder said.

Check back for updates as this story develops.