CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($)	9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2020	May 31, 2019
Operating Activities
Net (loss) earnings	$ (716,000)	$ 17,719,000
Net (Loss) Earnings from Discontinued Operations	(6,076,000)	6,518,000
Net Earnings from Continuing Operations	5,360,000	11,201,000
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Impairment & divestiture (benefits) charges, net of tax	(2,717,000)	14,018,000
Depreciation and amortization	15,373,000	15,470,000
Stock-based compensation expense	9,129,000	8,003,000
Provision (benefit) for deferred income taxes	1,218,000	(2,096,000)
Amortization of debt issuance costs	1,367,000	884,000
Other non-cash charges	1,169,000	295,000
Changes in components of working capital and other, excluding acquisitions and divestitures:
Accounts receivable	32,745,000	(16,390,000)
Inventories	(4,166,000)	(13,175,000)
Trade accounts payable	(24,246,000)	2,163,000
Prepaid expenses and other assets	1,605,000	(4,212,000)
Income tax accounts	(13,986,000)	5,731,000
Accrued compensation and benefits	(12,342,000)	(8,683,000)
Other accrued liabilities	(5,148,000)	(16,424,000)
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities, Continuing Operations	5,361,000	(3,215,000)
Cash (used in) provided by operating activities, Discontinued Operations	(21,064,000)	4,406,000
Cash (Used in) Provided By Operating Activities	(15,703,000)	1,191,000
Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(9,308,000)	(12,615,000)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	635,000	1,220,000
Lease buyout for divested business	(575,000)	0
Proceeds from sale of business/product line	10,226,000	0
Cash paid for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(33,434,000)	0
Cash used in investing activities, Continuing Operations	(32,456,000)	(11,395,000)
Cash Provided by Investing Activities, Discontinued Operations	208,391,000	25,184,000
Cash Provided by Investing Activities	175,935,000	13,789,000
Financing Activities
Principal repayments on term loan	(175,000,000)	(57,500,000)
Payment for Redemption of Term Loan	0	(200,000,000)
Proceeds from Issuance of Term Loan	0	200,000,000
Borrowings on Revolving Credit	100,000,000	0
Principal Repayment on Revolving Credit Facility	(100,000,000)	0
Stock Repurchases	(27,520,000)	0
Taxes paid related to the net share settlement of equity awards	(4,210,000)	(1,811,000)
Stock option exercises and other	2,985,000	1,352,000
Cash dividend	(2,419,000)	(2,439,000)
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs	(234,000)	(2,125,000)
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities, Continuing Operations	(206,398,000)	(62,523,000)
Cash Used in Financing Activities, Discontinued Operations	0	0
Cash used in financing activities	(206,398,000)	(62,523,000)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(1,382,000)	(1,613,000)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(47,548,000)	(49,156,000)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period	211,151,000	250,490,000
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	$ 163,603,000	$ 201,334,000