BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Reconciliations of Earnings from Continuing Operations to Adjusted Operating Profit) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2020	May 31, 2020	Feb. 29, 2020	Nov. 30, 2019	Aug. 31, 2019	May 31, 2019	Feb. 28, 2019	Nov. 30, 2018	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations	$ 67,782	$ 64,169	$ 63,596	$ 82,755	$ 85,880	$ 78,551	$ 14,928	$ 19,420	$ 278,302	$ 198,779	$ 135,237
Interest expense									(61,837)	(71,373)	(40,957)
Income taxes									(92,476)	(69,681)	(30,147)
Amortization of acquired unfavorable contract backlog									(29,367)	(74,784)	0
Impairment of assets									(7,611)	(384)	(14,372)
Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations									$ 576,608	$ 424,085	$ 352,221