Net Income (Loss) Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2016	May 31, 2015	May 31, 2016	May 31, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$ 11,805	$ (7,707)	$ (33,043)	$ (200,108)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(689)	(687)	(1,294)	(1,318)
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to SSI	11,116	(8,394)	(34,337)	(201,426)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(116)	(1,234)	(1,206)	(6,314)
Net income (loss) attributable to SSI	$ 11,000	$ (9,628)	$ (35,543)	$ (207,740)
Computation of shares:
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic (in shares)	27,261,000	27,043,000	27,195,000	27,003,000
Incremental common shares attributable to dilutive stock options, performance share awards, DSUs, and RSUs (in shares)	66,000	0	0	0
Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted (in shares)	27,327,000	27,043,000	27,195,000	27,003,000
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount (in shares)	490,984	1,359,372	725,548	1,290,829