The Rochester School Committee gave Janet Gauvin an early Christmas present on Thursday night when it agreed to reduce her rent for the remaining six months of her lease at the school.

Gauvin’s preschool and school-age program, Circle of Friends, began operating in the Rochester Memorial School at the beginning of the school year. Under the original lease, she agreed to pay $1,000 per month for the initial three months, the cost then went up to $1,500 in November and was set to reach $2,000 a month in the new year.

As a new business, however, Gauvin has had a more difficult time than expected with enrollment in the school, which includes before, during and after school options.

In a letter to Superintendent Doug White, Gauvin wrote, “it seems as though most families had already made arrangements for this school year. I do still believe the program has great potential to success, but as with any business, it can take several months to a year.”

RMS Principal Derek Medeiros praised Gauvin and her staff.

“They’re great folks,” he said. “I just think they’ve been a great addition to the building. If we can help them we should.”

Gauvin has 15 students and has the capacity for 25, said Medeiros.

School committee members were in favor of giving Gauvin more time to develop her business.

Meagan Bennett said she has heard good things from families with children in the program.

“I think she’ll get more enrollment. She just needs time,” said Bennett.

Business Administrator Patrick Spencer also said there was no one else competing for the space used by Circle of Friends.

The committee voted unanimously to allow Spencer to renegotiate Gauvin’s lease.