Schools have always been central to rural communities, but today they are critical to the sustainability of social and economic life for people who live beyond major centres of population. The development of virtual structures and processes that enhance classes in and between rural schools has provided extended educational and, indirectly, vocational opportunities, for young people in local and non-local communities. The sustaining of small schools and their enhancement through inter-institutional collaboration can now be extended to rural community life. The digital future will be built on relationships between e-learning, e-government, e-business and e-health. (Contains 1 footnote.)