Balance Sheet Components - Property, Plant and Equipment (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2016 USD ($) subsidiary	Aug. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Property, Plant and Equipment
Total property, plant and equipment	$ 57,110	$ 57,110	$ 63,069
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(48,297)	(48,297)	(42,290)
Property, plant and equipment, net	$ 8,813	8,813	20,779
Depreciation expense		5,288	4,752
Number of subsidiaries investor expressed interest on acquiring a portion of the equity | subsidiary	1
Impairment of long-lived assets		$ 8,635
Weighted average cost of capital (as a percent)		13.40%
Property, plant and equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment
Impairment of long-lived assets	$ 7,433	$ 7,433
Long-term notes
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment pledged as collateral for notes payable and lines of credit	4,700	4,700	7,100
Buildings and improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment
Total property, plant and equipment	12,822	12,822	13,833
Machinery and equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment
Total property, plant and equipment	41,065	41,065	43,661
Leasehold improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment
Total property, plant and equipment	213	213	474
Other equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment
Total property, plant and equipment	2,198	2,198	3,683
Construction in progress
Property, Plant and Equipment
Total property, plant and equipment	$ 812	$ 812	$ 1,418